Medi-Cal

Medi-Cal

Medi-Cal, the Medicaid program in California provides health coverage to people with low-income and assets who meet certain eligibility requirements. 

Medi-Cal can supplement Medicare services and help pay Medicare premiums, deductibles and copayments. 

Sometimes Medi-Cal can be used to pay private health insurance premiums.

Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage) has special rules and provides financial help for people with both Medicare and Medi-Cal. See our Extra Help with Part D Costs for People with Low Income and Medi-Cal sections.

If you are blind or have a disability and receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you are automatically eligible for Medi-Cal. To qualify for SSI, your monthly income and assets cannot exceed certain limits. 

Note: Many people with disabilities who qualify for SSI (including most children) are not eligible for Medicare benefits because they do not have the work credits to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. These people are only covered by Medi-Cal, not Medicare.

When Medi-Cal benefits are covered by both Medicare and Medi-Cal, Medicare is the primary payer and Medi-Cal is the secondary payer. 

When services like dental care or long-term care are covered only by Medi-Cal, it is the sole payer. If you have both Medicare and Medi-Cal, be sure the medical providers you choose accept both sources of payment for your care, or you may be facing billing delays or be required to pay unexpected medical costs.

In general, it is easier for people with disabilities to find Medi-Cal providers who will accept them as patients if they have both Medicare and Medi-Cal coverages, as opposed to Medi-Cal alone.