Medi-Cal & CalFresh

About 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.

You can also get Medi-cal if you are:

• 65 or older
• Blind
• Disabled
• Under 21
• Pregnant
• In a skilled nursing or intermediate care home
• On refugee status for a limited time, depending how long you have been in the United States
• A parent or caretaker relative of a child under 21 if:

The child's parent is deceased or doesn't live with the child, or
The child's parent is incapacitated, or
The child's parent is under employed or unemployed

About CalFresh

CalFresh, federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), issues monthly electronic benefits that can be used to buy most foods at many markets and food stores. The CalFresh Program helps to improve the health and well-being of qualified households and individuals by providing them a means to meet their nutritional needs.

The amount of benefits you can receive is dependent on your family size, countable income, and monthly expenses such as housing, utilities, and so forth.

All U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent Resident children may qualify to receive CalFresh benefits, regardless of where the parents were born. Parents may also qualify for benefits if all other program guidelines are met. Individuals with no children also may qualify.

The program issues monthly benefits that can be used to buy most foods at many markets and food stores. These benefits are issued on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card which looks like any other credit card.

You do not have to be on welfare to get CalFresh benefits. Eligibility for CalFresh assistance, as well as the benefit amount, is based on your household’s size and income level.