How to apply for california free health care

Get health care for your family including for children and seniors. Care also covers people with a disability, foster care, and pregnant women. Additionally, there’s coverage for people with diseases such as tuberculosis, breast cancer, or HIV/AIDS

Is Medi-Cal right for my family?

Medi-Cal provides free or low-cost health care to people who qualify. It can help pay for doctor visits, hospital care, immunization (vaccines), pregnancy-related services, nursing home care, and other services. This includes:

• Outpatient (ambulatory) services
• Emergency services
• Hospitalization
• Maternity and newborn care
• Mental health and substance use disorder services​
• Prescription drugs
• Programs such as physical and occupational therapy (known as Rehabilitative & Habilitative Services) and device
• Laboratory services
• Preventive and wellness services & chronic disease management

Who is eligible for Medi-Cal?

Medi-Cal provides free or low-cost health coverage for individuals (adults and children) and families who qualify. To qualify for Medi-Cal, you must live in the state of California and meet certain rules, such as having income under the Medi-Cal limit. If your income is over the Medi-Cal limit, you may still be eligible for help paying for private health care. You may qualify for health insurance even if you are not a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national.

What documents will I need?

These documents may be helpful when you apply:

Identity of Applicant

• Birth certificate
• Driver’s license
• Paycheck
• School records
• U.S. Passport
• U.S. American Indian/Alaska Native Tribal document
• U.S. military ID
• Fed, state or local ID
• Social Security numbers
• Award letter
• Medicare card

Immigration Status

• Immigration papers/forms/cards (copy of both sides)
• Certificate of naturalization
• A confirmation receipt or letter from USCIS verifying you filed a T or U visa application. It can also be a copy of the T or U Visa application.
• Note: All documents and forms will be verified through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlement (SAVE)

Proof you live in California

• Driver’s license
• Check stub
• Rent or mortgage receipt
• Utility bill
• School, government, or any document showing a California address

Money You Earned

• Dated check stubs for the last 30 days
• Statement from your employer
• Copy of last year’s tax return
• Bank statement showing direct deposit

Other Income

• A current benefit check
• Copies of child support checks
• Alimony checks
• Award letters

Resources

• Bank statements showing savings and checking accounts
• Mortgage statements
• Life insurance policies
• Statements of stocks, bonds, or certificates of deposit (CDs)
• Trust documents
• Vehicle registration
• Department of Motor Vehicle registration certificate
• Medi-Cal bills

Additional Proof for Health Coverage

• Info about any job related health insurance that is open to your family
• Policy numbers for any current health insurance

How long does it take?

The State must decide within 45 days for a Medi-Cal application that doesn’t involve a disability. However, you may hear back sooner.

If you have a disability, the process may take up to 90 days. This depends on how quickly you submit the supporting papers and when your doctors submit your records.

To stop delays, please submit all papers as soon as possible.

To speed up the process, tell us if you have an urgent medical or dental need. This could be a serious illness or if you are pregnant.

Submit you application here