Medi-Cal — Kern County DHS
Last updated August 2026
Medi-Cal covers medical, dental, and vision care free or at low cost, and its rules are looser than most people assume. You may qualify even if you work, own a home or a car, or are not a U.S. citizen.
The application is household and income questions, answered once: online at BenefitsCal.com, by phone at (661) 631-6807, or at a DHS office. After you file, the county verifies what it can and mails you for what it can't. Open that mail and answer it. Unanswered verification letters quietly kill cases that would have been approved.
Don't put off care while the decision comes. Clinica Sierra Vista at (833) 678-2781 and Omni Family Health at (866) 707-6664 both treat patients without insurance now, and both help with Medi-Cal paperwork on site, so the visit and the application can happen in the same building.
Over the income line? Two doors remain. Medi-Cal itself has a share-of-cost arrangement: you pay a set portion in a month before coverage picks up the rest. And Covered California pairs private plans with income-based subsidies at 1-800-300-1506, including a special enrollment window if you just lost job-based coverage.
Phone (661) 631-6807
Help available in English and Spanish.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Income within Medi-Cal limits (free coverage)
- Higher incomes may qualify with a share of cost
- Apply online at BenefitsCal.com, by phone, or in person
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
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Apply online at BenefitsCal.com.
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Or call Kern County DHS at (661) 631-6807.
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Or apply in person at a DHS office.
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Watch the mail afterward and send back anything the county asks for; approval waits on it.
What the application looks like
Common questions
Can I get Medi-Cal if I have a job?
Possibly, yes. Working, owning a home or car, or lacking U.S. citizenship doesn't automatically disqualify you. Apply and let the program decide.
What if my income is over the limit?
Higher incomes may still qualify with a share of cost: a portion you pay before Medi-Cal covers the rest that month.
Does Medi-Cal include dental?
Yes. Coverage spans medical, dental, and vision care.
How do I keep Medi-Cal once I'm approved?
Return the renewal paperwork when it comes. Unreturned forms end coverage for people who still qualify. Omni Family Health offers free help with renewals at (866) 707-6664 if the packet is confusing.
Can my kids get Medi-Cal if I don't qualify?
Often, yes. Income limits for children sit higher than for adults. Apply for the whole household and let the county sort out who qualifies; a parent's denial doesn't decide a child's case.
Does Medi-Cal look at what I own?
Owning a home or a car doesn't automatically disqualify you. Apply rather than screening yourself out. The county's determination is the only one that counts.
Will I pay a monthly premium?
Coverage is free within the income limits, and low-cost or share-of-cost above them. The county tells you which applies when it decides your case.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
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