Aged, Blind and Disabled Federal Poverty Level Medi-Cal in Santa Clara County

A directory listing, not an eligibility decision.

UniHealth can identify a possible match, but the responsible program makes the final decision.

What to know

Why it may fit: Your circumstances can be checked against the program’s published guidelines.
What to do next: Full Medi-Cal at no cost for people 65 or older, blind, or disabled with low income. Savings must be $130,000 or less for one person, plus $65,000 for each extra person. There is no interview.
Who runs it: Santa Clara County / DHCS

What the program may consider

Age 65 or disability
Countable income after allowed deductions
Countable resources

How to get it

Full Medi-Cal at no cost for people 65 or older, blind, or disabled with low income. Savings must be $130,000 or less for one person, plus $65,000 for each extra person. There is no interview.

How to apply

California's one application for Medi-Cal, CalFresh and cash aid

Online it is BenefitsCal. On paper it is the SAWS 2 PLUS. One application can ask for several programs at once.

The same application can also ask for CalFresh Food, CalWORKs, Extra Help with Medicare drug costs, General Assistance, Disabled Adult Child protection and 11 more.

OnlineBenefitsCal websiteApply online for Medi-Cal, CalFresh and cash aid, any time of day.
PhoneMedi-Cal health plan choice line (Health Care Options): 1-800-430-4263
PhoneHICAP free Medicare counseling: 1-800-434-0222Free, unbiased help with Medicare choices.
PhoneSocial Security: 1-800-772-1213TTY 1-800-325-0778
PhoneSanta Clara County benefits line: (408) 758-3800Apply or ask questions by phone, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
FaxSanta Clara County benefits fax: (408) 295-9248
MailSanta Clara County benefits mail: P.O. Box 11018, San Jose, CA 95103
In personSanta Clara County benefits offices: 1867 Senter Rd, San Jose; 1330 W. Middlefield Rd, Mountain View; 379 Tomkins Ct, Gilroy

Getting help

Someone can apply for you

Anyone can help you fill out the application. You can also name a person or an organization to act for you on form MC 382. They can sign your application and renewals, send papers, and ask about your case. You can limit what they may do. They cannot get your Medi-Cal card. They get copies of your letters only if you ask on the form. You can cancel at any time. In Santa Clara County, a name typed into a helper's own app does not count as your signature. Sign in ink, by phone with the county, or through an approved e-signing service.

You can name a person or an organization to act for you: ask for Appointment of Authorized Representative (MC 382).

What happens after you apply

The county records the day your application arrives. Once approved, coverage starts on the first day of that month.
The county
The county checks your income, benefits, citizenship and California address in records it can reach. It also checks bank records for savings. Over the limit? You can spend the extra by the end of the month, such as on medical bills.
The county
If you get Medicare, Social Security disability or SSI, you do not need papers to prove citizenship. Others get full coverage while they find proof. The county can order a birth certificate for you.
Only if records cannot confirm your citizenship or identity
The countyA helper can help with this You get 90 days to show proof, and more time if you are still trying.
If something is missing, the county mails you a letter listing the papers it needs. Send them, or call the county if you need help getting them.
Only if the county cannot check something itself
The countyA helper can do this for you You get 10 days. If they do not arrive, the county asks again and gives 10 more days.
Medi-Cal has no interview. The county talks with you only if you ask, or if something does not match. Missing a meeting cannot get you turned down.
Only if you ask, or if something on the application does not match
The countyA helper can help with this
You can ask Medi-Cal to pay medical bills from the 3 months before you applied. Ask within 12 months of the month you got care. You fill out form MC 210A. A worker may fill it out with you by phone, and you sign by phone. If a disability must be decided, those months wait for that decision.
Only if you asked for help with past medical bills
The countyA helper can help with this If the form comes by mail, send it back within 10 days.
If Social Security has not found you disabled, a state office decides. You fill out form MC 223 about your health. You sign form MC 220 for each doctor. If Social Security turned you down recently, you may be sent back to Social Security.
Only if you are applying because of a disability
The stateA helper can help with thisThe county sends your case to the state within 10 days. If there is no decision by day 90, you get a letter.
The state may ask you to see a doctor for an exam. The state sets it up.
Only if the state needs more health information
Your doctor or clinicianOnly you can do this
If you can get Medicare, the county asks you to sign up with Social Security. You never have to pay for Medicare Part A to keep Medi-Cal. Once you have Medi-Cal, you can sign up for Part B any time of year.
If you are 65 or older, will be soon, or are disabled
Social SecurityA helper can help with this
You get a letter that says yes or no. If you have Medicare, the county also checks if Medi-Cal can help pay your Medicare costs.
The countyWithin 45 days. If the state must decide about a disability, within 90 days.
If you are new to Medi-Cal, a plastic Medi-Cal card comes by mail. Sign the back. If you had Medi-Cal before, keep your old card. Without Medicare, you also show it at the pharmacy. Need care before the card comes? Ask the county about a temporary paper card.
The stateOnly you can do thisIt is mailed about 2 business days after approval.
Health Care Options, a state helper line, mails you a plan packet. In Santa Clara County, you can pick Santa Clara Family Health Plan or Anthem Blue Cross. Kaiser is only for some people, such as recent Kaiser members, their family, and people with Medicare. Pick within 30 days, or one is picked for you. With Medicare, this choice is yours alone. HICAP gives free, unbiased help.
The stateOnly you can do thisYou have 30 days to choose.
Your health plan mails you its own member card. It names your main doctor if you did not pick one. Bring both cards to visits.
Your health plan
If you have Medicare, a Medicare drug plan covers your prescriptions, not Medi-Cal. You also get Extra Help with drug costs automatically. If you have no drug plan, Medicare picks one for you. Changing it is your own choice. HICAP gives free, unbiased help.
Only if you have Medicare
Medicare
If you have Medicare Part B, Medi-Cal starts paying the premium about 2 months after approval. Social Security pays you back for premiums taken out in the meantime.
Only if you have Medicare Part B
The stateAbout 2 months after approval.

What only you can do

Sign the application, or have the person or organization you named on form MC 382 sign it.
Only you, or someone with legal power over your affairs, can name a helper on form MC 382.
Send any papers the county asks for that it cannot check itself.
If the state must decide about a disability, sign form MC 220 for each doctor yourself. No helper can sign it unless you are not able to.
Go to any health exam the state sets up for your disability claim.
Sign up for Medicare if you qualify and the county asks you to.
Get your Medi-Cal card at your address and sign the back. A helper cannot receive it for you.
Choose your Medi-Cal health plan within 30 days. If you have Medicare, any Medicare plan choice is yours alone. HICAP gives free, unbiased help.
Tell the county about changes within 10 days, including changes in savings or property.
If you kept full Medi-Cal without a qualifying immigration status, renew on time. After a gap of more than 3 months, only limited Medi-Cal is open to you.

How long it takes: The county must decide within 45 days, or 90 days if it must decide about a disability. Coverage counts back to the first of the month you applied. Then you have 30 days to pick a health plan.
You are enrolled when: You are enrolled when your approval letter says full Medi-Cal with no share of cost. Your Medi-Cal card must also work. A share of cost is an amount you pay each month before Medi-Cal pays. Then a health plan is set up for you and sends its card.
To keep it: Renew once a year. The county first tries to renew you with records it can check. If it cannot, it mails you a form. You have at least 60 days to answer by mail, phone, online or in person. Coverage stopped because you did not answer? Answer within 90 days and it comes back with no gap. Report changes within 10 days, including savings. Disagree with a county letter? Ask for a hearing within 90 days.

Can’t be combined with

Qualifying Individual (QI). You cannot get QI help with Medicare costs while you have Medi-Cal with no share of cost.
Aged, Blind and Disabled Medically Needy Medi-Cal. You get one or the other. If you qualify for Medi-Cal with no share of cost, the county uses that.
Qualified Disabled and Working Individual (QDWI). You cannot get QDWI help with Part A costs while you have this Medi-Cal.

Coming changes

Starting January 1, 2027: For applications from January 1, 2027, Medi-Cal can pay bills from only 2 months back, not 3.
Starting January 1, 2027: Starting January 1, 2027, people without a qualifying immigration status leave Medi-Cal health plans. They get care from any provider who takes Medi-Cal.
Starting July 1, 2027: Starting July 1, 2027, the Medi-Cal savings limit drops to $21,000 for one person and $31,000 for a couple. Today it is $130,000 and $195,000. Renewals from then on use the new limit.
Starting July 1, 2027: Starting July 1, 2027, many adult refugees, asylees and some other immigrants are set to move to limited Medi-Cal. It covers mostly emergencies.

Choosing a Medicare plan is your decision. UniHealth does not choose, recommend, or enroll anyone in Medicare plans. For free, unbiased help, call HICAP at 1-800-434-0222.