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Medi-Cal Parent Questions with Public Benefits Specialist Lisa Concoff Kronbeck

Medi-Cal Parent Questions with Public Benefits Specialist Lisa Concoff Kronbeck


Published: Mar. 24, 2022Updated: Oct. 27, 2023

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In our latest Office Hours session — where you can drop in on Zoom every other Wednesday from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. and have face-to-face time with specialists, providers, and Undivided team members — our Public Benefits Specialist, Lisa Concoff Kronbeck, answered questions about Medi-Cal.

Q: Do I need to renew Medi-Cal every year?

A: Yes, you need to renew every year bc otherwise it will get cut off, and you need to be on Medi-Cal for services like IHSS.

Q: Is there any reason for me to pick a managed care plan that Medi-Cal is offering me?

A: If you have private insurance, don’t pick a plan through Medi-Cal. You will remain enrolled in fee-for-service Medi-Cal. If you don’t have private insurance, you will need to choose a managed care plan through Medi-Cal.

Q: What can Medi-Cal cover if I have private insurance?

A: Sometimes private plans have blanket exclusions on certain supplies and equipment, like diapers and other consumable supplies, and hygiene products like shower and toilet chairs. If your insurance denies a prescribed supply or equipment, you can take the prescription and written denial to a company that accepts fee-for-service Medi-Cal, and they can work with you to request the item from Medi-Cal.

Medi-Cal generally won't provide wipes, but they'll provide barrier cream, waterproof mattress pads, diapers, and disposable underpads as long as you have both a prescription from a doctor and a written denial from your private insurance.

Learn more by reading our Medi-Cal 101 article and our article on making the most of Medi-Cal.

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Related Parent Questions

Do I need to renew the Medi-Cal institutional deeming waiver?
The waiver enrollment must be renewed each year. Along with any requested financial paperwork, you will need to obtain and submit a form letter from your Regional Center service coordinator establishing that your child remains a Regional Center client.
What can I do if Medi-Cal denies my claim?
If Medi-Cal denies coverage for something your child needs, you are entitled to an appeal. The appeal process changes depending on whether you are enrolled in a managed care plan or straight Medi-Cal.
Can I use Medi-Cal as secondary insurance?
Families who already have health insurance coverage for their child can still benefit from Medi-Cal as it may be used as a secondary insurance to pay certain expenses that a primary health insurance doesn’t cover.

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Undivided Editorial TeamStaff

Reviewed by Undivided Editorial Team, #### Contributors Lisa Concoff Kronbeck, Undivided Public Benefits Specialist Lisa Concoff Kronbeck, Undivided Public Benfits Specialist


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