Is Medi-Cal a type of insurance?

Asked by: Arlo Gleason  |  Last update: January 5, 2024
Score: 4.2/5 (30 votes)

Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program, is a public insurance health care program which provides health care services for low-income individuals and families who meet defined eligibility requirements.

Is Medi-Cal considered insurance?

Medi-Cal is California's version of the Federal Medicaid program. Medi-Cal offers no-cost and low-cost health coverage to eligible people who live in California. The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) oversees the Medi-Cal program. Your local county office manages most Medi-Cal cases for DHCS.

What is another name for Medi-Cal?

The California Medical Assistance Program (Medi-Cal or MediCal) is the California implementation of the federal Medicaid program serving low-income individuals, including families, seniors, persons with disabilities, children in foster care, pregnant women, and childless adults with incomes below 138% of federal ...

Is Medi-Cal a type of Medicaid?

Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program. This is a public health insurance program that provides free or low cost medical services for children and adults with limited income and resources.

Is Blue Cross the same as Medi-Cal?

Medi-Cal Managed Care (Medi-Cal)

are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Association. Anthem is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. Blue Cross of California is contracted with L.A. Care Health Plan to provide Medi-Cal Managed Care services in Los Angeles County.

What Is Medi-Cal? (Part 1)

29 related questions found

What type of insurance is a Medi Medi?

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps pay medical costs if you have limited income and resources and meet other requirements. Some people qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid and are called “dual eligible.” This is also referred to as “Medi-Medi.”

What kind of insurance is Covered California?

Covered California is a free service that connects Californians with brand-name health insurance under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. It's the only place where you can get financial help when you buy health insurance from well-known companies.

How do I know what kind of Medi-Cal I have?

Contact your local county social services office to learn about your Medi-Cal status and eligibility. The California Department of Health Care Services has a full directory of each county's agency.

What type of insurance is Medi-Cal HMO or PPO?

Almost all Medi-Cal plans are “managed care plans” which means they function similar to an HMO. Medi-Cal Plans can be found in the Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Plan Directory. A managed care plan means you'll have a primary care physician, and they're the one person you'll see if you need medical care.

What color is Medi-Cal card?

You will soon get a Medi-Cal identification card called a Benefits Identification Card, or BIC. It is white with blue writing, and it has a picture of the seal of the State of California. It will also have your name on it.

What is the difference between Medi-Cal?

Medicare and Medi-Cal are two separate programs for health care coverage. Medicare is available nationally to cover seniors and people under the age of 65 with certain disabilities. Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program, covering low-income individuals and families in California.

What's the difference between Covered California and Medi-Cal?

What is the difference in coverage between Medi-Cal and Covered California?​​​​ Medi-Cal is health coverage, just like the coverage offered through Covered California. Medi-Cal provides benefits similar to the coverage options available through Covered California, but often at lower or no cost to you or your family.

What is the difference between Medicaid and Medi-Cal?

Medi-Cal is what we call the joint Federal-State Medicaid program in California (just like Covered California is what we call Obamacare in California). Medi-Cal and Medicaid are essentially the same thing.

What is regular Medi-Cal?

Medi-Cal is California's version of the federal Medicaid health coverage program. This is a public health care program for California residents with low income and resources. Medi-Cal is a large program that provides a range of free or low-cost health services aimed to assist Californians with medical needs.

How do I know if I have Medi-Cal coverage?

You can visit your local county human services office. You can use your information to confirm your Medi-Cal eligibility and get a temporary identification card.

Does Blue Shield have a Medi-Cal plan?

Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan currently serves Medi-Cal members in Los Angeles and San Diego counties. In Los Angeles County, we are contracted with L.A. Care Health Plan. In San Diego County, we are contracted with the Department of Health Care Services.

What is full coverage Medi-Cal?

Medi-Cal provides free or low-cost health care to some people who live in California. Full. scope Medi-Cal covers more than just emergency health care. It provides medical, dental, mental health, family planning and vision (eye) care.

Do I have to pay Medi-Cal back?

The Medi-Cal program must seek repayment from the estates of certain deceased Medi-Cal beneficiaries. Repayment only applies to benefits received by these beneficiaries on or after their 55th birthday and who own assets at the time of death. If a deceased beneficiary owns nothing when they die, nothing will be owed.

Can I have Medicare and Medi-Cal at the same time?

Some people qualify for both Medicare and Medi-Cal and are “dual eligible” or Medi Medi beneficiaries. When an individual has both Medicare Parts A and B, Medicare is the primary insurance and pays for most medical care.

Is Medicaid only in California?

A Look at Medicaid Programs in Calfornia's Neighboring States. Similarly to California, five states expanded Medicaid access to include low-income adults also. Those states are Illinois, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon and Pennsylvania.

Is Covered California part of Medi-Cal?

What is Covered California? Covered California is the new marketplace that makes it possible for individuals and families to get free or low- cost health insurance through Medi-Cal, or to get help paying for private health insurance. Our goal is to make it simple and affordable for Californians to get health insurance.

Can I choose Covered California instead of Medi-Cal?

You may be eligible for health coverage through Covered California if you are no longer eligible for Medi-Cal due to an income increase or change in household size. In order to avoid a gap in your health coverage, Covered California can help you select a new plan before your Medi-Cal coverage ends.

Who funds Medi-Cal in California?

Medi‑Cal provides health care coverage to over 14 million Californians with low incomes. As a joint state‑federal program, costs are shared between the federal and state as well as local governments.

What is the downside of Medi-Cal?

There is a fundamental problem with Medi-Cal that is hindering patient access to care, and to specialists in particular – Medi-Cal physician reimbursement is so low that physicians cannot cover the cost of providing care.

Is Medi-Cal only for low income?

Medicaid income eligibility in California is based on household size. To qualify for free Medi-Cal coverage, you need to earn less than 138% of the poverty level, based on the number of people who live in your home.