Is Medi-Cal the same as Medicaid?

Medi-Cal is California's name for Medicaid

The California Department of Health Care Services says it plainly. Its site says Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program. The state and the federal government share the cost of it equally, according to the department's Medi-Cal page. The program helps people who earn less, such as families with kids, older adults and people with disabilities.

The department says Medi-Cal gives free or low-cost health coverage to people who qualify. Its list of people served also includes pregnant people and people with certain diseases, such as tuberculosis, breast cancer or HIV. You can sign up online, by phone, by mail or at a county office. The department also points people to Covered California, the state's health insurance marketplace, for help.

The program is run by the state and the nation together. The federal government sets the basic rules and pays part of the bill. Each state then runs its own version, picks a name and sets many of the details. Rhode Island's Medicaid agency puts it this way: the federal government and each state manage the program together.

That is why you may hear different words for the same program. A friend in California says Medi-Cal, but a cousin in Arizona says something else. Both of them mean the same thing, and both follow the same outline set by the nation. Our California guide shows how to sign up.

What other states call Medicaid

Some states use the word Medicaid for the program. Others give it a name of their own. Each name below comes from that state's official website.

• California calls its program Medi-Cal, and the state also says it is the Medicaid program there.
• Arizona uses AHCCCS, which is short for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. The state calls it Arizona's Medicaid agency in its own words.
• Tennessee uses the name TennCare, which the state calls Tennessee's Medicaid program.
• Washington uses the name Apple Health, which the Health Care Authority also labels Medicaid.
• Missouri uses the name MO HealthNet, which the state also calls Missouri Medicaid.
• Oregon uses the name Oregon Health Plan, which the state labels Oregon Medicaid.
• Connecticut uses the name HUSKY Health, which the state describes as HUSKY Health/Medicaid.
• Massachusetts uses the name MassHealth, which the state links to Medicaid on its site.
• Virginia uses the name Cardinal Care, and you can find it on the state agency's member pages.

Many other states simply use the name Medicaid. Some use a different name for part of the program. If your state is not on this list, we did not check it, so please do not assume it has a different name. Pick your state at HealthCare.gov and look at the agency name it shows.

Are the rules the same everywhere?

The states follow the same national outline, but the details are not the same. HealthCare.gov says all of the state programs must follow the same federal guidelines. Income limits, coverage and costs may be different in each state. If you move to another state, you need a new application there, since you apply where you live.

Some rules are changing in all states at once. A 2025 federal law also shortens how far back Medicaid can pay for care. This starts with 2027 applications, and our how to apply guide explains it.

HealthCare.gov also says benefits differ in each state, but all states provide full coverage. That means the basics, such as doctor visits and hospital care, are covered no matter what name your state uses. Read our how to apply for Medicaid guide for the steps. Our who qualifies for Medicaid guide explains the income rules.

Medicaid is not the same as Medicare

Medicare is a different program with a similar name. It is federal health insurance for people 65 or older and for some younger people with disabilities, and its rules are the same in every state. Medicaid depends mostly on your income and the state where you live. Our Medicaid vs Medicare guide explains who each program serves, what each one covers and how to apply for each.

How to tell which program you are in

Your card and your letters name the program. Look for the name of the state agency at the top of any letter you get. HealthCare.gov says some Medicaid programs pay for care directly. Others use private insurance companies, and in that case you may have a plan name on your card as well.

A Marketplace plan is also different. It is a private plan you buy on HealthCare.gov. HealthCare.gov says that if you qualify for Medicaid, you cannot get savings on a Marketplace plan. CHIP is the Children's Health Insurance Program, a sister program that covers children in families that earn too much for Medicaid. A state may give CHIP its own name, so ask the agency if you are not sure.

Can a person have both?

Yes, some people have Medi-Cal and Medicare at the same time. Medicare.gov calls them dually eligible, and Medicare pays first for the services it covers. Our Medicaid vs Medicare guide explains how the two programs work together.

Where to go next

If you are not sure which program fits you, start with the agency in your state. HealthCare.gov also has a short tool that tells you if you might qualify for Medicaid, CHIP or savings on a Marketplace plan. If you do not qualify, visit a community health center, which charges by income.

You can also search for a cash-pay doctor while you sort out coverage. This page is general information and not medical advice. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.