Medi-Cal
About Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal is the California version of the federal Medicaid program. The goal of the Medi-Cal program in San Luis Obispo is to provide health care for eligible residents of the County.
How to Apply for Medi-Cal
Even if you are working, own a house, or are married, you may be eligible for Medi-Cal programs that help pay medical expenses. Any person has the right to apply. Certain conditions must be met to qualify. It is important for anyone in need of medical assistance to contact the Department of Social Services because so many factors must be considered. Click here to find the office nearest you or see below for options on applying online.
Health-e-App
California recently launched public access to Health-e-App, California's online application for children's health coverage programs, such as Medi-Cal and Healthy Families. This application now allows you, the parent, to safely apply for health coverage for your children from your home, from libraries, or from wherever you access the Internet and at a time convenient for you. About 2,500 families used this simple tool on their own to apply for coverage for their children’s health care within 20 days of the launch of Health-e-App.
Health-e-App allows you to enter basic information to find out if your children are eligible for the state’s health coverage programs. Health-e-App identifies the programs for which your child appears eligible, temporarily enrolls the apparently children in Medi-Cal with no share of cost and routes the application to us for a complete Medi-Cal eligibility determination. You can begin or complete an application on your own or you can get help from local Certified Application Assistants (enrollment workers) if you need it.
How to apply online:
My Benefits CalWIN
It is also possible for San Luis Obispo County residents to apply for Medi-Cal on-line at My Benefits CalWIN
. Click here for instructions and more information about this secure website.
Services Available
Medi-Cal pays for many kinds of medical expenses. Your medical provider will know what services are available at no cost or with a "co-payment".
Pregnancy Services
You may be eligible for Medi-Cal to pay for medical expenses for yourself and the baby if you are pregnant and cannot afford to pay for health care during pregnancy and for the baby's first year of life. Medi-Cal is often available at no cost to the mother even if she has income. Increases in family income will not count after Medi-Cal pregnancy-related services are approved.
Services for Children
Children may get Medi-Cal at no cost if income requirements are met. There are different programs available for infants, for children ages 1 through 6, and for children ages 6 through 19. Children who receive Medi-Cal can get free health and dental check-ups through the Child Health and Disability Prevention Program (CHDP) to help keep them healthy, find health problems early, and answer health questions. Click here for a list of medical providers that serve Medi-Cal eligible CHDP children.
Confidential Medical Services for Minors
Confidential medical services are available to unmarried persons under age 21and living with their parents. Parental consent is currently not needed under the Minor Consent Program. Medical services covered under this program are those which relate to family planning, pregnancy, drug/alcohol abuse, venereal and other sexually transmitted infections, sexual assault, and outpatient mental health services for sexual or child abuse.
CHC - Helping Hand Clinics at No-Cost
Lost your job? or Medical coverage gone? CHC Helping Hand Clinics are available Saturdays providing NO-COST medical services to all newly unemployed or recently uninsured residents. Click here to view more information.
CenCal Health Medical Providers
Click here for the directory of the Cen-Cal Health medical providers for San Luis Obispo County. For printing purposes be aware that this document contains 143 pages.
Dental Services
Pediatric Denti-Cal Providers
Click here for a list of dental providers for San Luis Obispo county children covered
by Denti-Cal (Medi-Cal for pediatric dental services).
Click here for questions and answers about Denti-Cal.
Optometrist Providers
Click here for a list of providers for vision checkups for San Luis Obispo county residents who have Medi-Cal or CenCal Health coverage.
Health Resources in the County
Click here for a useful list of resources for Health and Medical services available to Medi-Cal beneficiaries in San Luis Obispo County.
Click here for information about the Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP)
Health Resources on the Web
Click here to go to Health Care.gov for information about health insurance and healthcare reform.
Click here to go to Needy Meds.org for prescription drug help.
Click here to go to Medicare.gov to search for and compare coverage options available in your local area.
Medi-Cal Caseload Statistics
Click here for Medi-Cal Caseload Statistics
Click here to go to the Department of Social Services home page