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Health Insurance

So there is a few different medical insurance available: the most common ones are Medi-Cal or Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) / Entrant Medical Assistance (EMA)

Medi- Cal

To qualify for Medi-Cal you need to be:

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First, below 138% of the poverty line

Specifics determined by the size of the household. Click here for a detailed chart 

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Second, a refugee, asylee, or have Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) status.

 

Third, live in California.

 

You can still get Medi-Cal even if you do not qualify if you are: 

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- Over the age of 65.
- Blind or disabled.
- Pregnant.
- In a nursing or intermediate care home or a skilled        nursing facility.
- Under the age of 21.
- A recipient of either cervical or breast cancer screening.
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Documents you need

 

Proof of immigration status (e.g. I-94, asylum approval letter, refugee travel document)

 

Proof of income (pay stubs, award letters, etc.)

 

Proof of California residency (e.g. rental agreement, utility bill)

 

Your Social Security number (if you have one)

 

Completed Form MC 13: Statement of Citizenship/Immigration Status

 

* You do NOT need to submit original documents — copies are okay.

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How to apply

➤ Option 1: Online

Apply through benefitCal, California’s statewide application site for Medi-Cal and other programs.

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➤ Option 2: Covered California

Go to https://www.coveredca.com/ and fill out an application — it will screen for Medi-Cal eligibility automatically.

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➤ Option 3: In Person

Visit your local county social services office. Find your county office here:

https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/Pages/CountyOffices.aspx 

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➤ Option 4: By Phone

Call your county Medi-Cal office or the state helpline:

📞 1-800-300-1506 (Covered California service center)

📞 Or your local Department of Public Social Services (DPSS)

Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) / Entrant Medical Assistance (EMA)

What is the difference?

 
Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA)

For people admitted to the U.S. as refugees, granted asylum, or given certain humanitarian statuses like Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) or Amerasian immigrant. 

With documents like: I-94 with code “RE” (refugee), “AS” (asylee), “AM” (Amerasian), SIV stamp/code, asylum grant notice

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Entrant Medical Assistance (EMA)

For Cuban/Haitian entrants (a special category under federal immigration law), including certain parolees and asylum applicants from Cuba/Haiti

With documents like: I-94 with “CU6,” “CU7,” “CH6” codes, parole stamp showing Cuban/Haitian entrant, or USCIS letter confirming status

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for RMA, a refugee must:

  • Have no other MC linkage

  • Not be receiving CalWORKs, RCA (except the 1V aid code), ECA, or SSI

  • Provide the name of the resettlement agency

  • Have resided in the U.S. for 8 months or less (exception: asylees and victims of a severe form of 

  • trafficking)

  • Have not been denied, or terminated from RCA for failure or refusal to comply with registration, 

  • employment, education or training requirements.

 

Exception: Refugees who are full-time students in an institution of higher education are not eligible for RMA unless their school attendance is part of an employability plan developed by the county Social Services Agency or it is part of a plan for an unaccompanied minor.

 

What it offers:

  • Up to 8 month (The DHCS has reduced the RMA coverage period from 8 to 4 months for anyone who has applied for RMA on or after May 5, 2025) full-scope Medi-Cal–equivalent benefits (doctor visits, prescriptions, hospital care, mental health, labs, X-rays, etc.)
     

  • No monthly premiums
     

  • No Social Security Number requirement
     

How to apply:

You can apply at the Local County Office

(When applying, let your eligibility worker know you’re seeking RMA or EMA specifically. The county will determine if you qualify for Medi-Cal first; if not, they'll evaluate you for RMA/EMA eligibility.)

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Find your nearest County office here:

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Here is the list of counties in South California where you can use BenefitsCal to apply for RMA or EMA

 

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Los Angeles

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Riverside

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San Bernardino

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San Diego

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Santa Barbara

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Ventura

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Documents needed (to be filled):

Other options

If you do not qualify for any of the above, here are four other options:

 

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funded MA may be available for pregnant people who are undocumented or noncitizens not otherwise eligible for MA. Eligibility may continue through the 12 month postpartum period. CHIP-funded MA is not available to people enrolled in other health care coverage. See Pregnant Person Basis of Eligibility. 

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People who are receiving services from the Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) may be eligible for state funded MA-CVT See 2.5.2 MA for People Receiving Services at the Center for Victims of Torture

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People with a medical emergency may be eligible for Emergency Medical Assistance (EMA) See 2.5.3 Emergency Medical Assistance

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People who meet specific criteria may be eligible for federally funded Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) See 2.5.7 Refugee Medical Assistance

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