Medi-Cal covers dental benefits for both adults and children. One of the most often asked questions we get from readers is this – How do I find Dentists that Accept Medi-Cal benefits near me? In this post, we will provide four options for finding a Medi-Cal dentist in your area for both adults and children.
Additionally, we will explain what is covered under Medi-Cal dental and whether there is a fee for Medi-Cal dental services.
To find a doctor that accepts Medi-Cal, see our post on Doctors that take Medi-Cal in California.
Does Medi-Cal include Dental Coverage?
Yes. Your Medi-Cal plan offers dental benefits for both children and adults.
You will need to show your Medi-Cal Benefits Identification Card (BIC) to your dental provider to receive dental services.
For more information, or to find a dentist near you, see the options below:
How to find Dentists that Accept Medi-Cal Near You
There are four ways to locate a Medi-Cal dentist near you.
Option 1 – Over the Phone
For help in finding dentists who accept new patients for the Medi-Cal Dental Program, you may call toll-free (800) 322-6384, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Option 2 – Online
The easiest and fastest way to find a Medi-Cal dentist accepting new patients is online through the Medi-Cal Provider Directory.
You can search the directory by Zipcode, county, language, and Dental Specialty, as shown in the image below.
Click here to be taken to the Medi-Cal Provider Directory.
The video below will also walk you through the process on how to conduct the online search.
Option 3 – Use Lists Compiled by County Medi-Cal Offices
The third option is to use an updated dentist list provided by county offices.
We have provided below the county Medi-Cal dental lists. Counties are listed by population, from the largest to smallest.
- Los Angeles County
- San Diego County
- Orange County
- Riverside County
- San Bernardino County
- Santa Clara County
- Alameda County
- Sacramento County
- Contra Costa County
- Fresno County
- Kern County
- San Francisco County
- Ventura County
- San Joaquin County
- San Mateo County
- Stanislaus County
- Sonoma County
- Tulare County
- Solano County
- Santa Barbara County
- Monterey County
- Placer County
- San Luis Obispo County
- Merced County
- Santa Cruz County
- Marin County
- Butte County
- Yolo County
- El Dorado County
- Shasta County
- Imperial County
- Madera County
- Kings County
- Napa County
- Humboldt County
- Nevada County
- Sutter County
- Mendocino County
- Yuba County
- Lake County
- Tehama County
- San Benito County
- Tuolumne County
- Calaveras County
- Siskiyou County
- Amador County
- Lassen County
- Glenn County
- Del Norte County
- Colusa County
- Plumas County
- Inyo County
- Mariposa County
- Trinity County
- Mono County
- Modoc County
- Sierra County
- Alpine County
Option 4 – Contact Your Medi-Cal Health Plan
Most Medi-Cal health plans cover some dental services.
Please review the Medi-Cal Member Handbook of your Medi-Cal health plan to learn more about the dental services you can get.
Below is the list of California Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans by County, including a link to their website and phone number.
The list is in alphabetical order. Scroll down to locate your county of residence and see the Medi-Cal health plans available in your county:
FAQs about Medi-Cal Dental Coverage
Here are the most frequently asked questions about Denti-Cal coverage:
What does Medi-Cal Dental Cover?
Medi-Cal Dental covers all medically-necessary dental care, including the following:
- Oral Evaluation (Under age 3)
- Exams and x-rays
- Prophylaxis
- Fluoride
- Filings, including amalgams & composites
- Crowns, including pre-fabricated and laboratory-processed
- Scaling and Root Planing*
- Periodontal (gum) Maintenance
- Root Canals
- Partial and Full Dentures
- Tooth extractions
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Other medically-necessary services
- Emergency Dental Services
For more details on coverage and any limits, click here for the California Medi-Cal Dental Handbook.
You can also get the handbook in 16 other languages by clicking here.
How much does Medi-Cal dental cost?
Medi‑Cal will pay up to $1,800 a year for covered dental services for adults.
For most households, the Medi‑Cal Dental Program provides free or low‑cost dental services.
Additionally, not all families are required to pay premiums, and for those who do, the cost is relatively low:
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) states that premiums for family Medi-Cal plans are set at $13 for each child and no more than $39 per family per month.
Summary – Dentists that Accept Medi-Cal
Here’s the bottom line:
There are four ways to locate a dentist near you that takes Medi-Cal:
- Over the Phone by calling the toll-free number at 1-(800) 322-6384.
- Online using the Provider Directory on the SmileCalifornia.org website or by clicking here.
- Visiting your county Medi-Cal website to see if they have a list of Medi-Cal dentists in your county and other low-cost dental services recommendations.
- Lastly, by contacting your Medi-Cal health plan to see what dental services they cover.
We hope this post on how to find a Dentists that Accept Medi-Cal Near You was helpful.
Questions?
If you have further questions about Medi-Cal or Medi-Cal Dental Coverage, please let us know in the comments section below.
Be sure to check out our other articles about Medi-Cal and California Medicaid program, including:
