Low-income and undocumented residents can get free Medi-Cal application assistance

Clinics are offering free application services for undocumented immigrants and other low-income residents.

On December 3, Mission City Community Network (MCCN) and Kheir Clinic announced that they are providing free Medi-Cal application services for low-income residents who are below 138% of the federal poverty line.

Medi-Cal is a free health insurance program operated by the California state government with federal government support. According to the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), Medi-Cal benefits are eligible for a household of four with a monthly income of $3,588 or less ($1,732 per person).

Medi-Cal enrollees have access to primary care and specialist care, dental care, emergency care, hospital admission and surgery, pregnancy and childbirth, and nursing home admission.

Located on Wilshire Boulevard in Koreatown, MCCN will provide free Medi-Cal application support until December.

“Medi-Cal is a medical assistance program for the low-income which many people are benefiting from,” said MCCN. ”If you are having difficulty due to language barriers or complicated procedures, please contact us.”

Those who wish to apply for Medi-Cal must submit an application with identification (driver’s license, green card, social security card, passport, or consulate ID) and proof of income (tax return or pay stub).

Since January of this year, undocumented immigrants can also apply regardless of age.

Kheir Clinic also provides free application assistance services. Korean Americans living in LA County can contact the patient support for application and renewal.

The clinic said that staff will help applicants fill out the paperwork if they bring their documents to the clinic for a Medi-Cal renewal. Kheir Clinic provides comprehensive services related to Medi-Cal, including insurance plans, designating and changing primary care physicians, and making appointments, free of charge.

“Many people are hesitant to apply for fear that they will be penalized for receiving welfare benefits such as Medi-Cal, as was the case during the first Trump administration, but nothing has been decided yet,” said Jae Hee Lee, External Affairs and Communications Specialist at Kheir Clinic. ”Applying for Medi-Cal will not affect your immigration status, so please feel free to apply.”

BY HYOUNGJAE KIM, KYEONGJUN KIM, HOONSIK WOO [kim.ian@koreadaily.com]