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Social Services: MEDI-CAL <page
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How to Apply for MEDI-CAL
You should apply for MEDI-CAL at your local County Welfare Department
office nearest you. MEDI-CAL eligibility workers may also be located at
some health clinics or hospitals where you receive health care services.
If you get an SSI/SSP grant, MEDI-CAL eligibility is automatically set
up by your Social Security district office and you may request your card
from them. Please note that if you are pregnant, you may request an "expedited
service" interview. Pregnancy is considered an immediate medical
need.
Once you receive your application, complete the forms and provide the
necessary documentation as soon as possible. Please note it may take up
to 45 days for your application to be processed. If you think you have
an immediate medical need, tell your eligibility worker and your application
may be processed faster.
If you had medical services in the 3 months before you applied for MEDI-CAL
and will need help from MEDI-CAL to pay the bills, you should also apply
for MEDI-CAL retroactive benefits. MEDI-CAL will pay bills retroactive
up to 3 months from the month you applied for MEDI-CAL. If you did not
apply for retroactive MEDI-CAL at the time you applied for MEDI-CAL, don't
worry! You have one year to ask for MEDI-CAL for that retroactive month.
Share of Cost Information
Depending upon your monthly income, MEDI-CAL may determine that you have
to meet a share of cost (SOC) before MEDI-CAL will pay for your, or your
family's medical expenses for the month. Your share of cost is determined
by how much money or income your family gets per month. MEDI-CAL allows
you to keep a certain amount of your family's income for your living expenses.
Any income for the month which is more than the amount you are allowed
to keep becomes your share of cost (SOC) for the month. If you do not
have any medical expenses during a month, you do not need to show that
you met your SOC for that month.
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