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Children and Families

Medi-Cal provides comprehensive health coverage for children and families. Depending on income and family size, you and your family may be eligible to free or low-cost Medi-Cal. Your income must be within the limits for the appropriate family size based on the Federal Poverty Levels (FPL). If not eligible for free or low-cost Medi-Cal because your family’s income is above the FPL limits, then you can request to be evaluated for other Medi-Cal programs which may include coverage with a Share of Cost. Your worker can provide you with more information regarding which program is more beneficial to you.

Basic Eligibility Requirements
  • You and your family members requesting Medi-Cal must reside
    in California.
  • You must provide information about your family’s income,
    and verification of other necessary information if requested.
  • If you file income taxes, then you must declare your tax filing
    status, however, it is not required that you file taxes to apply
    for Medi-Cal.
  • You must be the parent or caretaker relative of at least one child under the age of 19 (or under 21 if a full-time student).
Income Requirements

Below are the income limits for both children and parents/caretaker relatives based on the Federal Poverty Levels (FPL) amounts.

 

Income Limits for Children Aged 0-19
FAMILY SIZE

INFANT AGED 0-1

0-266% FPL

CHILD AGED 1-19

0-160% FPL

CHILD AGED 1-19

161-266% FPL
1 $2,829 $1,702 $2,829
2 $3,822 $2,299 $3,822
3 $4,815 $2,896 $4,815
4 $5,808 $3,494 $5,808
5 $6,801 $4,091 $6,801
6 $7,794 $4,688 $7,794
7 $8,787 $5,286 $8,787
8 $9,780 $5,883 $9,780
  NO PREMIUM NO PREMIUM PREMIUM*

* Optional Targeted Low-Income Children Program is a Medi-Cal premium payment program.  The premium amount is $13 dollars per child per month, with a maximum of $39 per family for 3 or more children.

Income Limits for Parents/Caretaker Relatives Aged 19-64
Family - Size

0-138% FPL
1 $1,468
2 $1,983
3 $2,498
4 $3,013
5 $3,529
6 $4,044
7 $4,559
8 $5,074
Mother, father and two children all hands together and walking past a house between the trees
Apply On-Line with Your Benefits Now

The easiest and quickest way is to apply for CalWORKs online at Your Benefits Now.

Apply By Phone
You can apply by phone. Call the Customer Service Center (CSC) (866) 613-3777 to have an application mailed to you.
Apply In Person
You can apply In person at any Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) District Office or outreach site.
Citizenship/Immigration Requirements
  • If you have satisfactory Immigration Status and all other eligibility requirements are met, you may be eligible to Full-scope Benefits.
  • If you have a non-satisfactory Immigration Status and all other eligibility requirements are met, you may be eligible to Restricted-scope Benefits.

Children and adults under the age of 26 are eligible to Full-Scope Medi-Cal benefits regardless of their immigration status and if all other eligibility requirements are met.

 
Immigration Status and Medi-Cal Benefits
Immigration Status Income and Age Limits
  Under Age 19 and Income Between 0-266% FPL Age 19 to 26 and Income Between 0-138% FPL Age 26 to 64 and Income Between 0-138% FPL

Satisfactory Immigration Status

 Full Scope Benefits (Includes Pregnancy Services) Full Scope Benefits (Includes Pregnancy Services)
 Full Scope Benefits (Includes Pregnancy Services)
Non-Satisfactory Immigration Status Full Scope Benefits (Includes Pregnancy Services)) Full Scope Benefits (Includes Pregnancy Services) Restricted-Scope Benefits (Includes Pregnancy Services)
 
 
 
Frequently Asked Questions
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