What is it?
This is a new California program which started on January 1, 2002. It will give eligible people immediate and free regular Medi-Cal or time-limited cancer-related Medi-Cal. To be eligible, you must:
- have been screened and diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer,
- not have insurance (or have too little insurance),
- be a California resident (California residency means that you plan to live and stay in California. It has nothing to do with your immigration status. Even undocumented persons can be California residents.)
- have monthly income below certain limits.
You can get these benefits regardless of your immigration status. Your immigration status and whether you have other health insurance, however, will determine which benefit package you can get (regular Medi-Cal or the time-limited Medi-Cal). You do not need a social security number to apply.
How do I get it?
You can immediately get health care if you are eligible. You do not have to go to the welfare office and wait for them to approve your regular Medi-Cal application to apply. To apply, you must have a confirmed diagnosis of breast or cervical cancer. You must go to a doctor or nurse who participates in this program who will file an internet application for you. Breast Cancer Early Detection Program (BCEDP), Family Planning Access Care and Treatment (Family PACT), and Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP) providers are the only providers who can file an internet application for you. You should state that you want the internet application to serve as a Medi-Cal application because doing so might help you become eligible for a longer period of time. These benefits will not make you a public charge. What kind of benefits can I get? You can get regular (also called full-scope) Medi-Cal during the time that you need treatment for breast or cervical cancer if you are a woman, you do not have enough health insurance, and you are:
- a citizen;
- a lawful permanent resident (green card holder);
- a refugee, asylee, conditional entrant, person granted withholding of deportation, or paroled for at least one year;
- a Cuban/Haitian entrant; or
- a battered spouse.
If you are none of the above, or if you have health insurance but it costs too much (more than $750 a year), you can get time-limited benefits. Time-limited benefits are cancer-related services for up to 18 months for breast cancer and 24 months for cervical cancer.
Getting Old Bills Paid
You may also get Medi-Cal to cover your bills for up to three months before the date that you applied. You must be able to show that you would have been eligible for this program had you applied in the prior month(s). This program, however, will not pay for bills that were incurred prior to January 1, 2002.
Income Limits
You qualify if your monthly income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for a family of your size. That means your family's income is below the following limits:
| Number of Persons |
2000% FPL |
| 1 |
$1,432 |
| 2 |
$1,935 |
| 3 |
$2,438 |
| 4 |
$2,942 |
| 5 |
$3,445 |
| 6 |
$3,948 |
Property Limits
No property limits apply to this program. If you meet the other eligibility requirements, you are eligible no matter how much property that you have. Should you have any further questions regarding this new program, please contact a BCCTP Eligibility Specialist at (800) 824-0088 or BCCTP
Web site at www.medi-cal.ca.gov.
VIDA News (Feb. 8, 2002) Courtesy of the Health Consumer Center
Breast & Cervical Cancer Treatment Program
