Is L.A. Care Medi-Cal free?
Asked by: Rasheed Welch PhD | Last update: October 1, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (61 votes)
Is L.A. Care Medi-Cal free?
L.A. Care serves people who qualify for Medi-Cal. In most cases, L.A. Care members do not have to pay for covered services, premiums or deductibles. If you are an American Indian, you do not have to pay enrollment fees, premiums, deductibles, co-pays, cost sharing, or other similar charges.
Is Medi-Cal completely free?
Description. Medi-Cal offers free or low-cost health coverage for Californians who meet eligibility requirements, regardless of immigration status. Most applicants who apply and enroll in Medi-Cal will receive care through Medi-Cal health plans.
What is the difference between Medi-Cal and L.A. Care?
L.A. Care is the health plan for Medi-Cal members in Los Angeles County. The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) works with L.A. Care to provide your Medi-Cal health care.
What type of insurance is L.A. Care?
L.A. Care offers a Medi-Cal plan built with our community in mind. Medi-Cal is a public health care program for those with limited income. This free or low-cost public health insurance program pays for medical services for eligible California residents.
L.A. Care Health Plan Discusses Medi-Cal Redeterminations
Does L.A. Care have a copay?
Aside from the monthly premium, you may be responsible for paying a charge when you receive a covered service. This charge is called a copayment and is outlined in the Summary of Benefits. If you review your Summary of Benefits, you'll see that the amount of the copayment depends on the service you receive.
Why is L.A. insurance so expensive?
There are many reasons why car insurance in Los Angeles is expensive, including the high number of cars on the road, population density and car accident and theft rates. Minimum-coverage car insurance in LA costs 49% more than the California average and 33% more than the national average.
How do I switch from L.A. Care to Medi-Cal?
You can leave L.A. Care and join another health plan in your county of residence at any time. To choose a new plan, call Health Care Options at 1-800-430-4263 (TTY: 1-800-430-7077 or 711). You can call between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
How good is a L.A. Care Health Plan?
L.A. Care Health Plan is the highest-rated Medi-Cal managed care plan in Los Angeles County, as shown by the National Committee for Quality Assurance's (NCQA) Medicaid Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2019–2020.
Which Medi-Cal plan is best?
OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 19, 2023 – Kaiser Permanente Northern California's Medi-Cal health plan is the highest rated in the state for quality care, according to a December 2022 report from the state's Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).
What disqualifies you from Medi-Cal?
To qualify, you must: Meet the medical requirements of Social Security's definition of disability. Be working and earning income (this can be part-time work). Have countable income less than 250% of the federal poverty level (in 2024, this equates to $3,158/mo.
Is Kaiser part of L.A. Care?
In addition to offering a direct Medi-Cal line of business, L.A. Care contracts with three Plan Partners to provide coverage to Medi-Cal members. These Partners are Anthem Blue Cross, Care 1st Health Plan, and Kaiser Permanente.
Why does no one accept Medi-Cal?
The most frequent reasons physicians limit Medi-Cal patients in their practices are payment rates and administrative hassles.
Is Medi-Cal really free?
Medi-Cal is California's version of the Medicaid health care program. Medi-Cal provides free or low-cost health care coverage to California residents with limited income who meet eligibility criteria, including income guidelines, regardless of their immigration status.
Does L.A. Care cover hospital visits?
L.A. Care covers medically necessary inpatient hospital care when you are admitted to the hospital.
Is L.A. Care public or private?
L.A. Care has been a publicly operated health plan since 1997, serving Medi-Cal members in Los Angeles County. Then in 2014, when it decided to participate in Covered California™, the state's Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchange, it became the first true public option in the marketplace… and guess what? It's thriving.
What is the most expensive health insurance in California?
The most expensive health insurance in California is a platinum plan for an elderly adult, with an average monthly rate of $1982.
What type of plan is L.A. Care?
L.A. Care is a health plan for people who have Medi-Cal in Los Angeles County. L.A. Care works with the State of California to help you get the health care you need.
Does L.A. Care pay for gym membership?
SilverSneakers® is a no-cost fitness benefit for L.A. Care Medicare Plus members. This exciting program gives you a free basic gym membership at more than 15,000 fitness center locations across the country.
Does Medi-Cal cover hospital bills?
If you meet the requirements of the program, Medi-Cal will help pay for doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, rehabilitation, and other medical services. Medi-Cal is California's part of a national health coverage program called Medicaid.
Can I get Kaiser with Medi-Cal?
The California Medi-Cal program provides health care coverage for some of the most vulnerable populations in the state and Kaiser Permanente participates in the Medi-Cal program to provide high quality care to enrolled beneficiaries in most counties currently served by the health plan.
Which is better, L.A. Care or Health Net?
You'll notice that LA Care is generally one of the lowest 1-2 carriers listed at each benefit level. For many people, it's a function of being able to afford their health insurance at all! Health net is generally a notch or two above LA Care for HMO. But very close.
What is the cheapest insurance in California?
Geico offers the cheapest minimum coverage in California, with an average rate of $243 per year according to NerdWallet's January 2025 analysis.
Why is insurance so high in California now?
There are plenty of reasons why this happens – more claims, inflation, higher repair costs – but in 2025, Californians saw an even larger increase than normal. That's because the state legislature raised the required minimum liability limits, and these new limits took effect Jan. 1.