Covered California is where Californians can get brand-name health insurance under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. It’s the only place to get federal premium assistance to help you buy health insurance from the companies shown below. That means you may qualify for a discount on a health plan through Covered California, or get health insurance through the state’s Medi-Cal program. Either way, you’ll have great health coverage.
Covered California and the Department of Health Care Services, work together to help health insurance shoppers get the coverage and care that are right for them. Covered California or Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal is a program that offers free or low-cost health coverage for children and adults with limited income and resources. If you qualify, you can enroll in Medi-Cal year-round. What is the difference between Covered California and Medi-Cal? Medi-Cal offers low-cost or free health coverage to eligible Californian residents with limited income. Covered California is the state’s health insurance marketplace where Californians can shop for health plans and access financial assistance if they qualify for it. Health plans available through Medi-Cal and Covered California both offer a similar set of important benefits, called essential health benefits. How can I apply for Medi-Cal? You can initiate a request on this website to apply for either Covered California or Medi-Cal. After submitting an online request, you will be contacted within 8 business hours by a certified enrollment agent to assist you with the application and to answer any of your questions. The enrollment agent will be inputting your information into the government Covered California database. When the enrollment agent calls you back, the telephone interview will take approximately 15-20 minutes and at the end of the call, the agent will inform you of your enrollment status. The agent will also guide you to select the best plan for your given situation. Who is eligible for Medi-Cal? Medi-Cal covers low-income adults, families with children, seniors, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, children in foster care and former foster youth up to age 26. If you are no longer eligible for Medi-Cal, you may complete the online application on this website for Covered California approval and the certified enrollment agent will be assisting and guiding you along this process.