What insurance is Medi-Cal?

Asked by: Alexandrea Swaniawski  |  Last update: February 11, 2022
Score: 4.9/5 (61 votes)

Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid health care program. This program pays for a variety of medical services for children and adults with limited income and resources.

What kind of insurance is Medi-Cal?

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 a PPO or HMO?

Medi-Cal is health insurance for people with low incomes. Some counties have Medi-Cal Managed Care, in which the State contracts with HMO plans to provide health care services to Medi-Cal members.

Is Medi-Cal Medicaid or Medicare?

Medi-Cal, the Medicaid program in California, provides health coverage to people with low-income and asset levels who meet certain eligibility requirements.

What types of Medi-Cal are there?

This guidebook explains the two kinds of Medi-Cal: Regular Medi-Cal and Medi-Cal Health Plans. This guidebook can help you choose which kind of Medi-Cal is right for you.

Understanding Medi-Cal

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Is Medi-Cal a marketplace insurance?

Enrollment. Covered California is the new marketplace for affordable, low cost and no cost health insurance, including Medi-Cal. It's a “no wrong door” approach that will help Californians learn their eligibility for subsidized health benefits, compare insurance plan options, and enroll to receive coverage.

What is Medi Medi insurance?

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 eligibles.” This is also referred to as “Medi-Medi.”

Do I need to enroll in Medicare if I have Medi-Cal?

If you have Medi-Cal, you must enroll in a Medicare Part D drug plan. ... Medi-Cal pays for your long-term care and care in a nursing home. If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you must get all of your medical care from in-network doctors and other medical providers.

What is the difference between covered California and Medi-Cal?

Medi-Cal offers low-cost or free health coverage to eligible Californian residents with limited income. Covered California is the state's health insurance marketplace where Californians can shop for health plans and access financial assistance if they qualify for it.

Is Medi-Cal Medicare Advantage?

Medicare Advantage Plans are a type of Medicare health plan offered by private companies that contract with Medicare to provide Part A and Part B benefits. Most Medicare Advantage Plans also offer prescription drug coverage. ... MA plans pay first, and Medi-Cal pays any remaining cost sharing amounts.

Does Medi-Cal cover out of state?

CCR, Title 22, Chapter 3, Article 1.3, Section 51006, allows reimbursement for medically necessary emergency services that need to be provided by an out-of-state provider to California Medicaid (Medi-Cal) recipients temporarily in another state.

Which HMO is best in California?

According the most recent annual rankings from National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the top three rated HMOs serving members in Northern California are:
  • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Northern California.
  • UnitedHealthcare of California.
  • Western Health Advantage.

Is Medi-Cal state or federal?

Medi-Cal—California's Medicaid program—is a state-federal program that offers free or low-cost health coverage to Californians with low family incomes. Prior to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medi-Cal served low-income families and children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

Is Medi-Cal A HMO?

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.

How much is Medi-Cal per month?

How much are the premiums? The premiums for Medi-Cal for Families are $13 for each child and no more than $39 per family per month. What can I do if I disagree with paying a monthly premium? Monthly premiums must be paid for the child(ren) to remain eligible for this Medi-Cal program.

Can you have Covered California and Medi-Cal at the same time?

These two-program families are called “mixed-program families.” Your family can apply for both through Covered California application. Individuals in a mixed-program family will face different, but typically lower, costs due to their eligibility for both Covered California and Medi-Cal.

Does Kaiser accept Medi-Cal?

Kaiser Permanente participates in Medi-Cal in many counties. This means that, if you are a current Kaiser Permanente member and your situation changes, you may be able to keep your same doctor and continue your care with Kaiser Permanente if you qualify for Medi-Cal.

Does Medi-Cal check your bank account?

Yes. Asset tests are a part of Medicaid eligibility requirements. Medi-Cal is the State of California's Medicaid program. Bank accounts are one of the easier tests for the government to make.

How much money can I make and keep Medi-Cal?

The $54,082 income limit is called a threshold amount. This is what Social Security calculates as the value of your SSI and Medi-Cal benefits.

Is Medicare free in California?

Medicare Part A is usually free if you or your spouse paid Medicare payroll taxes for approximately ten years while working (this is called “premium-free Part A”). If you don't qualify for premium-free Part A, you may have the option to pay for hospital insurance, also called “premium Part A”.

Is Medi-Cal primary insurance?

Primary Insurance is health insurance that pays first on a claim for medical and hospital care. In most cases, Medicare is your primary insurer. See also, Secondary Insurance.

Is Medi Medi the same as Medicare?

Medicare provides health coverage to individuals 65 and older or those with a severe disability regardless of income, whereas Medi-Cal (California's state-run and funded Medicaid program) provides health coverage to those families with very low income, as well as pregnant women and the blind, among others.

Who is eligible for Medi-Cal?

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. The income limits based on household size are: One person: $17,609. Two people: $23,792.

Can I have Medi-Cal and private insurance?

If you have private health insurance, you can still qualify for Medi-Cal. Members who already have insurance can add Medi-Cal coverage to their existing plan. Your provider will first bill your private insurance, and then Medi-Cal will pay for any additional services it covers.

Is Medi-Cal the same as Obamacare?

The most important difference between Medicaid and Obamacare is that Obamacare health plans are offered by private health insurance companies while Medicaid is a government program (albeit often administered by private insurance companies that offer Medicaid managed care services).