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Social Services: MEDI-CAL <page
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What is it?
MEDI-CAL, California's version of Medicaid, pays for medical care for
public assistance recipients and other low income persons. Many people
are on both Medi-Cal and Medicare, a federal program that is not income
based. You must be a resident of California to receive MEDI-CAL. There
are some exceptions including refugees and 'alien' residents.
There are property and assets limits for the MEDI-CAL program. If your
property/assets are over the MEDI-CAL property limit, you will not get
MEDI-CAL unless you lower them according to program rules. The county
looks at how much you and your family have each month. If you are below
the limits at any time during that month, you will get MEDI-CAL, if otherwise
eligible. If you have more than the limit for a whole month, you will
be discontinued. MEDI-CAL does not include the home you live in, furnishing,
personal items, and one automobile in your assets/property. A single person
is allowed to keep $2000 in property/assets, married couples/families
are allowed a bit more.
MEDI-CAL will cover some services with prior approval such as medical
transportation, durable medical equipment, and hemodialysis services.
Your medical provider makes the prior authorization request, called a
TAR(treatment authorization request). Some services which do not require
prior approval include most doctor's services and clinic visits, laboratory,
x-ray, and radiation treatment and medical screenings for persons under
21. Your pharmacist can tell you if your medications require prior authorization.
If you or your doctor think that health services that are not usually
covered by MEDI-CAL may be needed, you should talk to your local county
Child Health and Disability Prevention Program or the managed care plan
you are enrolled in.
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