Health Benefits for Kids and Teens (0-17)

Who this is for:

California children and teens under 19 in low- to moderate-income households. Kids can qualify at much higher income levels than adults, and California covers children under 19 regardless of immigration status if they meet the other rules.

What you get:

• Full coverage usually includes checkups, vaccines, doctor visits, hospital care, and prescriptions.
• Many children also get dental, vision, and mental health care through the same coverage.
• This can be a strong all-in-one option for everyday care and bigger medical needs.

What to do right now:

Apply through BenefitsCal.com — one application covers all California programs. The system will match your child to the right one based on your family's situation.

Who this is for:

Some children in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties whose family income is too high for regular child Medi-Cal but still within California's child expansion range.

What you get:

• Children can still get broad health coverage even when they make too much for regular child Medi-Cal.
• Some families may pay a small monthly premium instead of getting fully free coverage.
• This can still be much cheaper than paying full price for a private family plan.

What to do right now:

If California offers this to your child, it's worth taking — it's almost always more affordable than a private plan and coverage is comparable.

Who this is for:

Kids whose families earn too much for child Medi-Cal or CCHIP.

What you get:

• Families can buy marketplace coverage, and many may still get financial help.
• Child plans include pediatric dental and vision benefits.
• Covered California lets families compare plan choices and monthly costs in one place.

What to do right now:

Use Covered California's Shop and Compare tool before buying any child coverage off-marketplace.

Who this is for:

Kids on Medi-Cal or Covered California family plans.

What you get:

• Children often get free or very low-cost cleanings, exams, fillings, eye exams, and glasses.
• These visits can catch problems early before they become painful or harder to manage.
• The value of this benefit depends on choosing the right in-network providers.

What to do right now:

Choose in-network dental and vision providers right after enrollment and book the preventive visits early.

Who this is for:

Babies in their first weeks of life, especially when a parent already has Medi-Cal, MCAP, or private coverage.

What you get:

• Newborns often have automatic or temporary protection right after birth.
• Coverage can continue if the birth is reported and the baby is added on time.
• Fast follow-up helps avoid gaps in checkups, hospital care, and early newborn visits.

What to do right now:

Handle enrollment within the first 30 days and do not assume the hospital finished every part for you.

Who this is for:

Children in foster care and former foster youth.

What you get:

• Children in foster care can usually get Medi-Cal while they are in care.
• Many former foster youth can keep Medi-Cal until age 26 regardless of income.
• This protection helps young people avoid losing coverage during a major life transition.

What to do right now:

Make sure the county has properly recorded the youth's foster care status before they turn 18 — this is what keeps their Medi-Cal active. Errors here are common and worth checking on.

Who this is for:

Children with major medical, developmental, or disability-related needs.

What you get:

• Families may be able to combine waiver-based Medi-Cal, regional center services, and California Children's Services.
• These programs may help with therapies, case management, home-based care, and specialty treatment.
• Using more than one support path at the same time can save families weeks or months of delay.

What to do right now:

Don't wait for one application to finish before starting the next — apply to all three programs at the same time to avoid months of delays.

Who this is for:

Public-school students, especially those who need mental health, speech, nursing, or screening services.

What you get:

• California schools can connect students to free or school-linked mental health care and screenings.
• Some children may also get help with speech, nursing, or other school-based supports.
• For some families, school is the fastest place to start getting help during the school year.

What to do right now:

Ask the school, in writing, what health and mental-health services are available on campus or through school partners.