MISP is available to qualifying residents of San Luis Obispo County who have a current illness or injury and no other way to pay for necessary medical care. If you've experienced a recent medical event, such as a trip to the ER or a stay in the hospital, MISP may be able to help you pay for some of those costs.

Short-term Assistance

MISP provides short-term assistance to help MISP clients pay for a specific medical need. Once approved, clients are granted eligibility for either three months or for six months, depending on the medical need. Clients may reapply if they continue to have a medical need at the end of their eligibility period.

Share of Cost

Share of cost is the monthly amount clients have to pay their providers, or agree to pay, towards their health care costs before MISP will pay the remainder. Share of cost works something like an insurance plan's deductible.

Primary Care at CHC

MISP clients receive primary care through one of the Community Health Centers (CHC) clinics located throughout SLO County. For more information, call CHC at 805-929-3211 or visit www.communityhealthcenters.org.

Clients do not have to pay a share of cost towards covered medical services received at CHC.

Primary care, pharmacy, and some laboratory tests, x-rays, and ultrasounds are provided through the Community Health Centers (CHC) clinics located throughout SLO County.

All other medical services, except for emergency services, must first go through your CHC primary care provider AND receive prior authorization from MISP.

Not Covered: Preventative care, health screenings, contraception, and pregnancy services are not covered.

About Emergency Services: MISP covers emergency services at SLO County hospitals only for symptoms from an emergency medical condition. An emergency is a very serious problem that requires immediate medical attention to prevent serious harm or death. If it is not an emergency, then call your primary care doctor first. If the doctor's office is closed, you can still call and you will be referred to the on-call doctor. The on-call doctor can help answer your questions and let you know if you need to go to the emergency room. 

MISP uses the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to determine income eligibility. These levels, set each year by the federal government, take into account the individual's annual household income and household size.

Qualifying income levels for MISP must be over 138% FPL, but not more than 250% FPL. View Covered California's Federal Poverty Level (FPL) chart .

Household income includes the income for each member of the household, even if only one member is applying for MISP.

MISP is not health insurance and it is not Medi-Cal. MISP offers short-term assistance to help pay for some medical expenses. MISP does not meet the legal requirement to maintain minimal essential coverage, which means you could be subject to a tax penalty.

MISP does not provide full health coverage like Medi-Cal or an insurance plan. Covered California is our state’s online health insurance marketplace where you can find out if you are eligible for free coverage through Medi-Cal, or for financial assistance to purchase health insurance. Enroll or just get answers online at www.CoveredCA.com or call 1 (800) 300-1506.
Covered California can also find you nearby certified enrollment counselors or insurance agents who will provide in-person assistance.

If you have questions about insurance, obtaining medical care, plan options with Covered California or Medi-Cal, call Health Care Navigation at (805) 781-4838 or call the local office of the Department of Social Services at (805) 781-1600.
 

No. MISP is a program of the County of San Luis Obispo to help qualified low-income residents pay for necessary care.

Most people must have qualifying health coverage or pay a fee for the months they don't have insurance. But if you qualify for a health coverage exemption you don't need to pay the fee (tax penalty).
Health coverage exemptions: Forms and how to apply