County Medically Indigent Programs
Counties have an obligation to provide some health care to low income county residents. Very low income people who are not eligible for Medi-Cal or Medicare may be eligible for their county’s medically indigent program. People on their county’s general assistance or general relief programs are often automatically eligible for the county indigent program.
Each county has its own regulations for its medically indigent program, so there are no consistent rules regarding who is and is not eligible for county medically indigent programs. Many counties have rules that mirror Medi-Cal’s in terms of income and property eligibility. In general, people who qualify for their county’s medically indigent program are low income adults without dependants, who are not seniors, and who do not meet Social Security or Medi-Cal’s criteria for disability. Many beneficiaries will not have to pay any cost for covered health services, but some will have to pay a share of the cost depending on income.
The health care provided by county medically indigent programs is not comprehensive. Counties do not have to provide the same quality or scope of health care that people with private insurance or Medi-Cal receive. Each county has its own rules about what health care services the county medically indigent program will cover. Counties do have to provide emergency care, care necessary to treat life or limb threatening conditions, care that will prevent significant disability or illness, and care that will alleviate severe pain.
People have the right to appeal decisions about their eligibility and coverage that the county medically indigent program makes. Each county has its own rules regarding the appeal process.
34 small counties have combined to join the County Medical Services Program (CMSP). CMSP is administered by Blue Cross. To get CMSP services beneficiaries must use providers in the Blue Cross CMSP network. If CMSP beneficiaries have trouble finding a specialist they can call Blue Cross and Blue Cross will help them find a specialist.
For more information on your county’s medically indigent program visit your county’s Health and Social Services Department website: