Medi-Cal and private plans in California offer a robust set of health care services and resources to meet the health needs of people across California. Learn more about what services exist and how NHeLP is working to expand access to even more critical services. For a more in-depth dive into California services, see our Advocate’s Guide to Medi-Cal Services.
Medi-Cal provides coverage for a wide array of health services, including transportation to medical services, prescription drugs, gender-affirming care, dental services, long-term services and supports, and behavioral health services. Medi-Cal also offers an expansive number of services for kids and adolescents under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit. NHeLP works closely with California’s Medicaid agency, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), to protect access to these services, advocating for continuous coverage improvements that advance health equity. We also assist local and state partners in enforcing beneficiary’s rights to medically necessary services.
In addition, NHeLP works with Covered California, the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC), the California Department of Insurance (CDI), and other state regulators to enforce and enhance coverage requirements for private plans in California. In particular, we partner with advocates across the State to ensure access to necessary behavioral health services and enforcement of the federal and state mental health and substance use disorder parity requirements. We also work closely with Covered California and other agencies that oversee the quality of services provided by private plans, particularly those required to cover all essential health benefits (EHBs) under the Affordable Care Act.
