Most people have health insurance through their employer. Others may have VA health benefits, Medicare, COBRA, or private insurance. If these options don’t apply to you, there are two other choices: Medi-Cal and Covered California.

Medi-Cal

Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program, which provides medical services to children and adults with limited income. This program is funded by federal and state taxes. You can apply for Medi-Cal no matter your sex, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or veteran status. As long as you meet the eligibility requirements, you can receive Medi-Cal year-round, with no application deadline.

Note: Income and residency requirements apply to all applicants.

Covered California – Low-Cost Plans

If you don’t qualify for Medi-Cal, you can still purchase affordable private health insurance through Covered California, possibly with financial assistance. Many people qualify for help, either through immediate discounts or tax credits, which can be applied to reduce your out-of-pocket costs (such as co-pays).

If you need help applying for health insurance, IBHS can guide you through the process. Our CECs (909) 708-8158 is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Call for a pre-qualification screening and to schedule an appointment with a CEC. You can also visit any of our clinic locations to speak with our CEC.

There are other ways to get help as well. We recommend consulting a CEC or insurance agent. These professionals are certified by Covered California to offer FREE counseling and application assistance. Beware of anyone charging fees for this service—legitimate assistance is always free.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has changed health insurance by providing more protections and benefits. Before the ACA, insurance companies could deny coverage to individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes or cancer. They could also increase premiums at any time. Now, health insurance companies cannot deny coverage or drop you if you get sick.

As of 2013, all health insurance plans, including Medi-Cal, must cover ten essential health benefits, which makes it easier to compare plans and know what you’re paying for. These benefits include preventive and wellness services (such as immunizations, cancer screenings, birth control, and domestic violence counseling), medical services, emergency services, hospitalization, maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance use disorder services, prescription drugs, rehabilitative services and devices, laboratory services, and pediatric services.