Medi-Cal covers vital health care services for you and your family, including doctor visits, prescriptions, vaccinations, mental health care, and more. So, if you have Medi-Cal, make sure you renew it when it’s time.
You will need to renew your Medi-Cal between April 2023 and May 2024. Annual renewals are usually due in the same month you first enrolled for Medi–Cal. For example, if you first enrolled in June of 2022, you will need to renew in June of 2023.
What you should do to stay covered:
- Update your contact information – Make sure to tell your county Medi-Cal office about any changes in your contact information (mailing address, phone number, email) so they can contact you with information about how to renew your coverage.
- Check your mail – When it is time to renew coverage, Medi-Cal will mail you a letter to let you know if you need to complete a renewal form or if your renewal can be completed automatically. Renewal forms will be sent in a yellow envelope!
- Complete your renewal form – If you receive a renewal form, your coverage will not be renewed unless you complete it. Fill out the form and return it to your county Medi-Cal office right away to help avoid a gap in your coverage.
- Sign up for alerts at KeepMediCalCoverage.org to get general updates about what is happening with Medi-Cal renewals by signing up for email and SMS text messages.
Renew your Medi-Cal coverage and report changes by:
- setting up an account online – visit benefitscal.com to find out how to update your information online; or
- contacting your county Medi-Cal office, by mail, phone, or in person. To find your county Medi-Cal office, visit dhcs.ca.gov/COL or call (800) 541-5555.
NEED HELP? If you need assistance with your Medi-Cal renewal, call the Medi-Cal
Member Helpline at (800) 541-5555 or find help in your community at allinforhealth.org/healthcoverageresources
Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens provides free services to keep your child healthy from birth to age 21. These services include check-ups, shots, and health screenings. Also included are treatments for physical, mental, and dental health problems.All care is free unless you have Share of Cost when you qualify for Medi-Cal.
Schedule a Check-Up
You can get help to:
- Find a doctor or set up an appointment
- Get a free ride to and from your appointment
- Ask for language assistance at your appointment
- Ask for interpretive services
Call
Your Managed Care Plan
The phone number is on your plan ID card and your plan’s website
Or Call
Medi-Cal Member Help Line
Phone: (800) 541-5555
TDD: (800) 430-7077
Web: www.dhcs.ca.gov/myMedi-Cal
For more information please visit https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/kidsandteens
“Full breadth” coverage during pregnancy and for the year after! Everyone who has Medi-Cal, whether Full-Scope or Restricted, or the Medi-Cal Access Program (MCAP) qualifies for the “full breadth” of medically necessary services during both pregnancy and the year after, even if income increases. This eligibility lasts until the end of the month in which the 365th day post pregnancy occurs.
The coverage is the same as Full-Scope Medi-Cal. Immigration status does not matter. It also doesn’t matter how the pregnancy ends. The only exceptions are if the Medi-Cal was Presumptive Eligibility or Minor Consent or if the person moves out of California. For more information visit: https://mcweb.apps.prd.cammis.medi-cal.ca.gov/news/32244 and the Pregnancy Landing Page https://mcweb.apps.prd.cammis.medi-cal.ca.gov/references/pregnancy-landing
Report the pregnancy or when it ended! In order for this full, extended coverage to show up in the Medi-Cal eligibility system, the county needs to know that the person is pregnant or was pregnant within the past year. So, people with Medi-Cal need to report pregnancy (or its end) to the county as soon as possible. Documentation of the pregnancy is not required, and the county isn’t supposed to ask for it.
For more information see this Maternal and Children Health Access Fact Sheet
It is important to report to MCAP the birth of the child (here’s how) or other end of pregnancy (FAX 1-888-889-9238, mail to MCAP, P.O. Box 15559, Sacramento, CA 95852-0559, or phone 1-800-433-2611) as soon as possible
Good oral health is linked to long-term overall health and academic opportunity, however, caries–or tooth decay–remain the most common chronic disease among children in the United States, despite being preventable. In California, tooth decay is a significant public health problem, especially for young children. By the third grade, six in 10 children (61 percent) have experienced tooth decay and one in five children (22 percent) have untreated tooth decay.
For more information please visit our Oral Health page.
During the pandemic, the COVID-19 Uninsured Group Program covered over 360,000 people who needed health care related to COVID. It covers testing, vaccines, and treatment of anything else related to COVID for dates of treatment between March 2020 and May 2023.
Starting after May 31, 2023: eligibility will end and the program will expire! This means it will no longer accept applications, and everybody with coverage will be cut off. Before then (starting March 20, 2023), people will receive a letter that confirms the coverage cutoff, and includes an application for full-scope Medi-Cal and Covered California.
If you are currently enrolled in the COVID-19 Uninsured Group Program and want to find out if you are eligible for comprehensive health care benefits and services at no or low cost through Medi-Cal or Covered California, you should apply for ongoing coverage today!
To avoid a gap in coverage, apply for regular Medi-Cal or Covered California today! By mail, phone, and online now at Covered California and learn about more coverage options here. The Covered California special enrollment period will last until July 31, 2023 – so apply before then!
Questions?
If you have any questions or if your Medi-Cal application was denied, please contact your local county office at dhcs.ca.gov/COL or by calling (800) 541-5555. You can also contact the California Department of Health Care Services directly at COVID19Apps@dhcs.ca.gov or (916) 552-9200.
Public Charge
The effects of the Trump administration’s changes to the public charge rule fell heavily on low-income immigrants who qualify for public programs, with a direct impact on millions of children. Many immigrant households chose to disenroll or forgo applying for benefits in fear of jeopardizing their immigration status.
These regulations were reversed by the Biden Administration more than one year ago, allowing immigrant families to use most health care and social service programs with no immigration-related consequences.
The final rule that took effect in December 2022 makes it safe for immigrants and their families to use the health, nutrition and housing programs for which they qualify and lessen the fear, confusion and barriers facing immigrants and their families.
Health 4 All
Full scope Medi-Cal covers more than just care when you have an emergency. It provides medical, dental, mental health, and vision (eye) care. It also covers alcohol and drug use treatment, drugs your doctor orders, and more. You can learn more about Medi-Cal at www.dhcs.ca.gov.
As of May 1, 2022, all individuals in California aged 50 or older, who meet eligibility requirements can now qualify for full-scope Medi-Cal benefits, regardless of immigration status.
Learn more about the expansion of Medi-Cal for older adults here in English and Spanish.