If you are trying to locate a San Diego County Medi-Cal Office near you, we can help. In the county of San Diego, the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) runs the Medi-Cal program. You can visit a HHSA office near you to apply for Medi-Cal, submit documents, attend an interview, renew your benefits, and ask questions about Medi-Cal.
In this post, we will provide the list of San Diego County Medi-Cal Office locations, with phone numbers.
However, before you visit an office location, you can save yourself time by reviewing our frequently asked questions below.
We have provided answers to the top reasons why people visit the Medi-Cal Office in San Diego County. See below.
For the closest Medi-Cal office near you, continue reading below.
San Diego County Medi-Cal Office Locations
The San Diego Medi-Cal office (HHSA Offices) locations below are listed by area, so you have to scroll down to find the location near you.
Additionally, for each office location below, we have provided a phone number to call in case you have questions.
In addition to Medi-Cal, you can apply for CalFresh, General Relief, and CalWORKs at the following locations, which are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday:
See below for a list of HHSA office locations in San Diego County:
You can pick up a Medi-Cal application at the following HHSA Family Resource Centers:
Centre City
1255 Imperial Avenue,
5th Floor,
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 1-866-262-9881
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
El Cajon
220 S. First Street,
El Cajon, CA 92019
Phone: 1-866-262-9881
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Lemon Grove
7065 Broadway,
Lemon Grove, CA 91945
Phone: 1-866-262-9881
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Central Region
1130 10th Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 1-866-262-9881
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
North Central
5055 Ruffin Road
San Diego, CA 92123
Phone: 1-866-262-9881
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
North Coastal
3708 Ocean Ranch Blvd,
Oceanside, CA 92056
Phone: 866-262-9881
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
North Inland
649 West Mission Avenue #3,
Escondido, CA 92025
Phone: 866-262-9881
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
South
690 Oxford Street
Chula Vista, CA 91911
Central
4588 Market Street,
San Diego, CA 92102
Phone: 866-262-9881
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Additionally, you can pick up a Medi-Cal application at the following HHSA offices:
Fallbrook Community Resource Center
202 West College
Fallbrook, CA 92028
Phone:
866-262-9881
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Ramona Community Resource Center
1521 Main Street
Ramona, CA 92065
South Region Live Well Center at National City
401 Mile of Cars
National City, CA 91950
Medi-Cal in San Diego County FAQs
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Medi-Cal in San Diego County:
Who is eligible for Medi-Cal in San Diego County?
Medi-Cal is available to San Diego County residents who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, legal aliens, or U.S. nationals.
There are several ways to qualify for the program.
First, you can qualify based on Income. To see the income limits, see our post on Medi-Cal income limits.
Also, you can qualify because you meet certain requirements that relate to your health or age. You are eligible to receive Medi-Cal benefits if you are:
- Over the age of 65
- Blind or disabled
- Pregnant
- In a nursing or intermediate care home
- Under the age of 21
- A refugee living in the U.S. temporarily
As a parent or guardian relative of a child who is under the age of 21, you may be eligible for Medi-Cal if you’re taking care of the child because the parents:
- Have died
- Do not live with the child
- Are incapacitated
- Are not employed
Additionally, you may also qualify for Medi-Cal benefits if you are already enrolled and receiving benefits from one of the following programs:
- CalFresh
- SSI/SSP
- CalWorks (AFDC)
- Refugee Assistance
- Foster Care or Adoption Assistance Program
How do I Apply for Medi-Cal in San Diego County?
There are three ways to apply for Medi-Cal in San Diego County:
- Online at MyBenefits CalWIN
- Online through Covered California, at or by calling 1-800-300-1506.
- Call the Access Call Center at 866-262-9881.
- Apply in person at one of these HHSA office locations listed below.
Additionally, you can mail in completed applications and verification documents to the following address:
County of San Diego
Health and Human Services Agency
APPLICATIONS
P.O. Box 939044
San Diego, CA 92193-9005
Is it safe to apply for Medi-Cal through Covered California?
Yes. Medi-Cal and Covered California use the same application.
This means that once you apply using CoveredCA.com, you’ll find out which program you qualify for. Some households qualify for both.
What Happens After I apply for Medi-Cal?
Here’s what happens after you apply for Medi-Cal in San Diego County:
Your Medi-Cal application will be reviewed by the HHSA to determine if you qualify.
This could take up to 45 days.
To check on the status of your application, contact your Local HHSA office (see list of locations above).
If the HHSA determines you qualify and are approved for Medi-Cal, you will receive a packet in the mail with your Medi-Cal ID card.
Once you receive your Medi-Cal card, which is also known as a Benefit Identification Card (BIC), you can start using your Medi-Cal benefits.
What is fee-for-service Medi-Cal coverage?
There are two types of Medi-Cal coverage: fee-for-service and managed care.
With fee-for-service Medi-Cal coverage, you do not have to sign up for a health plan.
This means you can go to any doctor, therapist, hospital, or dentist that accepts Medi-Cal.
With managed care Medi-Cal coverage, you must choose a health plan and you can only go to the doctors and providers that are in your health plan.
However, most counties require you to choose a managed care plan within 30 days after you have been approved for Medi-Cal. If you fail to choose a plan, one will be assigned to you.
You Must Choose a Health Plan
After you are approved for Medi-Cal, you must choose a health care plan and/or provider within 30 days of receiving your packet.
If you do not choose a plan and/or provider within 30 days, one will be assigned to you.
To see a list of health plans available to you in San Diego County, and compare plans, click here.
What is the difference between Medi-Cal benefits and Covered California health plans?
In terms of similarities, both Medi-Cal and Covered California offer health coverage.
However, the maximum income an individual and/or family can have to be eligible for Medi-Cal is lower than for Covered California health plans.
If you qualify for Medi-Cal, most of your health care will be free or low-cost to you and your eligible family members.
However, families with higher incomes may find that only their children qualify for Medi-Cal coverage.
The parents may qualify to receive financial assistance on a Covered California health plan.
What does Medi-Cal Cover?
When you are approved for Medi-Cal, you get coverage for the following benefits:
- Doctor visits
- Hospital stays and surgery
- Hospital outpatient procedures and services, like MRIs and X-rays
- Emergency and urgent care, including emergency ambulance services
- Prescription drugs
- Procedures, like biopsies or having a colonoscopy
- Screening tests, like mammograms or cholesterol blood tests
- Preventive care, like vaccines, check-ups, and family planning
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- Pregnancy tests and prenatal care
- Durable medical equipment (DME), like a walker or wheelchair
- Long-term care
- Transportation, in limited cases
- Dental care for people under age 21 (Call Denti-Cal at 1-800-322-6384.)
- Some mental health care
Are all Medications covered by Medi-Cal?
It depends. When your doctor prescribes a drug, ask if it is covered and if it needs authorization. Some drugs need authorization, even if they are on the preferred list.
Also, be sure to use a pharmacy that takes your kind of Medi-Cal plan.
Additionally, if the pharmacist says your drug is not covered, you can ask for a free emergency supply. Then, ask your doctor to fill out an authorization form so that you can get the rest of the prescription.
What long-term care will Medi-Cal pay for?
Medi-Cal can help with care at home through IHSS as well as other in-home programs.
In addition, Medi-Cal can also pay for long-term care in a facility setting.
Depending on the county you live in, Medi-Cal may help pay for your loved one’s stay in assisted living, skilled nursing/ convalescent facility, or at a congregate living health facility.
Medi-Cal in San Diego County Summary
We hope this post on San Diego County Medi-Cal Office Locations was helpful.
Questions?
If you have further questions about Medi-Cal in San Diego County, 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:
