What kind of insurance is L.A. Care?

Asked by: Prof. Juvenal Rosenbaum MD  |  Last update: October 30, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (59 votes)

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.

Is L.A. Care Medicare or Medicaid?

L.A. Care Medicare Plus coordinates all Medicare and Medi-Cal benefits as one health plan. Just a few of the benefits include access to gyms through Silver Sneakers, an over-the-counter allowance, mental health services, telehealth and worldwide emergency coverage.

What kind of insurance is a L.A. Care Health Plan?

L.A. Care Medi-Cal is the largest Medi-Cal plan in California that provides health care coverage to Medi-Cal beneficiaries residing in Los Angeles County.

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.

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.

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Is Blue Cross part of L.A. Care?

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 network is LA Care covered?

The Medi-Cal provider network is the group of doctors, hospitals and other providers that work with L.A. Care to provide Medi-Cal covered services to Medi-Cal members. L.A. Care is a managed care health plan. You must get most of your covered services through L.A. Care in-network providers.

Is L.A. Care only for low-income?

The Local Initiative Health Authority for Los Angeles County (L.A. Care) is a public agency that provides health insurance for low-income individuals in Los Angeles County through four health coverage programs including Medi-Cal.

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.

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.

How does L.A. Care work?

L.A. Care is a managed care health plan contracted with DHCS. L.A. Care works with doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers in the L.A. Care service area to give health care to our members. As a member of L.A. Care, you may qualify for some services provided through FFS Medi-Cal.

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.

What is the best Medi-Cal health insurance?

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 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.

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.

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 the same as Medicare?

L.A. Care Medicare Plus (HMO D-SNP) is an all-in-one health plan for individuals eligible for both Medicare and Medi-Cal, offering complete and coordinated care.

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.

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.

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.

Does L.A. Care provide transportation?

As a L.A. Care Medicare Plus member, you are able to utilize transportation services to see your Provider and to obtain medically necessary covered services at no cost. L.A. Care will work with you and your Provider to find the transportation service that best fits your needs and to schedule a ride.

Does L.A. Care cover gym memberships?

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.

Can I go to any doctor with L.A. Care?

The doctor you choose must be an in-network provider. To get a copy of the L.A. Care Provider Directory, download it from the Medi-Cal Member Materials page or call Member Services at 1-888-839-9909 (TTY: 711) to have one sent to you.

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.

Does L.A. Care cover over the counter?

L.A. Care Medicare Plus members have a $150 quarterly (every 3 months) allowance to buy over-the-counter (OTC) health items. Choose from thousands of approved products with your Healthy Benefits Plus card. Below are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help you.