{"id":780,"date":"2020-11-17T17:03:05","date_gmt":"2020-11-17T17:03:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/save-your-teeth-and-money-with-medi-cal-dental\/"},"modified":"2024-03-07T01:30:21","modified_gmt":"2024-03-07T01:30:21","slug":"save-your-teeth-and-money-with-medi-cal-dental","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/dental-blog\/save-your-teeth-and-money-with-medi-cal-dental\/","title":{"rendered":"Save Your Teeth and Money with Medi-Cal Dental"},"content":{"rendered":"
Save your teeth and money with medi-cal dental<\/p>\n
Have you ever put off or completely skipped a trip to the dentist because you were worried about the bill?<\/p>\n
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Has your dental care ever had to take a back seat for financial reasons?<\/p>\n
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Don\u2019t worry, California has your back.<\/p>\n
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See, if you live in California, you have a trick up your sleeve that you might not have used before or even knew you had.<\/p>\n
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This trick could help make your dentist visits more affordable, not to mention your healthcare as a whole.<\/p>\n
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Okay, enough pretending like you didn\u2019t already read it in the title.<\/p>\n
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The trick is Medi-Cal<\/a>, and it\u2019s a low-cost healthcare option exclusive to Californians. So, if you\u2019re a golden state resident who wants more affordable dental care<\/a>, read on.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Since helping you cut costs is one of our favorite things to do at Dental Express, <\/a>we\u2019re going to tell you all about Medi-Cal and how to use it at your local San Diego dentist<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Medi-Cal is California\u2019s Medicaid program. Under the Affordable Care Act, Medi-Cal offers free or low-cost brand name healthcare to eligible and lawfully present California residents.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This affordable healthcare option is available to eligible single adults, married adults with or without children, children, and pregnant women. So, virtually everyone – as long as they qualify.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Medi-Cal provides coverage for everything from primary care to emergency services to vision and dental care.<\/p>\n According to Smile California<\/a>, with Medi-Cal dental<\/a>, coverage is just as far-reaching. If you qualify, you\u2019ll have access to a wide range of dental care services at little or no cost to you:<\/p>\n Not a bad deal to have just for living somewhere, right? It gets better.<\/p>\n Medi-Cal dental is just as easy to use as regular dental insurance. If you qualify, you and any eligible family members will receive your benefits identification card by mail. Then all you have to do is flash your new card at your local San Diego dentist\u2019s office<\/a> to start reaping the rewards.<\/p>\n Once you check the lawfully-residing California resident box, Medi-Cal will look at your income to see if you qualify. They also use your marital status, family size, and total household income to determine your eligibility.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You might qualify for Medi-Cal dental if you use other services such as CalFresh, SSI\/SSP, CalWorks, Refugee Assistance, or the Foster Care or Adoption Assistance Program.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Additionally, they extend benefits to people in various situations and stages of life, such as:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n While we can\u2019t promise that you\u2019ll qualify, we can promise that if you do, you and your family will enjoy no or low-cost dental care services<\/a> at your San Diego dentist<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With four ways to get the job done, applying for Medi-Cal dental is easy and convenient. You can apply online, over the phone, by mail, or in person.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Completing the online registration process at Covered California<\/a>\u2019s website will take about an hour and is the quickest way to see if you qualify for dental benefits.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can also call the number on Covered California\u2019s website to set up a callback with a certified enroller that will walk you through the application process.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you\u2019d like to apply in person, you\u2019ll need to pay a visit to your county\u2019s social services office.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And for mail-in applications, print and fill out the form on the Department of Health Care Services <\/a>website, then send it to your local social services office.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Of course, no application would be complete without the right amount of personal paperwork. Here\u2019s what you need to apply:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Once they receive your application, Medi-Cal<\/a> will send you a response within ten to fifteen days outlining whether you qualify and which program you\u2019re eligible for.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By the way, open enrollment started on November 1st, so don\u2019t wait to find out if you\u2019re eligible!<\/p>\n The worst they could say is no, and you might be leaving a lot of money on the table if you miss out.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s say you turned in your application, you waited the fifteen days, and you got a message back saying you qualified. Congratulations!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now what? What can you expect from your new dental care plan?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re taking your baby in for their very first checkup or you need senior dental care, Medi-Cal provides a wide range of services for people of all ages:<\/p>\n With Medi-Cal, you could have an annual max of up to $1,800, and if you\u2019re pregnant or a senior, you could qualify for no annual max.<\/p>\n Not all families are required to pay premiums, but if you are, don\u2019t sweat it.<\/p>\n The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)<\/a> states that premiums for family Medi-Cal plans are set at $13 for each child and no more than $39 per family per month. There are a few ways you can receive discounted premiums as well:<\/p>\n That\u2019s an easy one. To find a participating dental practice in your area, you can search using Medi-Cal\u2019s provider directory.<\/a><\/p>\n Despite what we\u2019re led to believe, dental health is not separate from general health.<\/p>\n Life often gets in the way of maintaining your oral health routine, whether it\u2019s due to finances or other factors outside of your control. Regardless of the circumstances, if you neglect your oral health, it could end up costing you way more down the road.<\/p>\n Medi-Cal helps relieve the financial burden of keeping you and your family\u2019s teeth healthy. Being able to get regular checkups at your San Diego dentist<\/a> at little or no cost can relieve a lot of financial stress.<\/p>\n Routine dental visits are the frontline of defense against the development of more severe dental issues. Catching problems when they\u2019re small saves you the money, time, and struggle of having to deal with the worst-case scenario later.<\/p>\n And if the worst-case does happen, Medi-Cal <\/a>will soften the blow by providing affordable assistance for whatever treatments you may need.<\/p>\n Maintaining your dental health is one of the most important things you can do for your long-term health and wallet. At Dental Express, we play the long game. When we build your treatment plan, we tailor it to give your unique smile enough shine to last a lifetime.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dental Express has six locations in the San Diego area dedicated to putting your Medi-Cal dental benefits to work. We\u2019re always happy to help make your dental visits more affordable, and we encourage all of our patients to see if they qualify.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With Medi-Cal, trips to the dentist can be a lot less stressful, and your dental care no longer has to take a backseat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Feel free to give us a call with any questions about your benefits, and bring your Medi-Cal identification card with you to your next visit to start using them on the spot!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Downfalls of Dental Insurance: Use it or Lose it<\/a><\/p>\n Tips to Find the Best Dentist Near Me in San Diego<\/a><\/p>\n How to Navigate Through the Dental Insurance Maze<\/a><\/p>\nWhat is Medi-Cal?<\/h2>\n
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Do I Qualify for Medi-Cal Dental?<\/h2>\n
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How Do I Apply for Medi-Cal Dental?<\/h2>\n
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What Does My Medi-Cal Dental Care<\/a> \u00a0Plan Look Like?<\/h2>\n
Medi-Cal Covered Services<\/h3>\n
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Yearly Maximums<\/h3>\n
Premiums<\/h3>\n
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Which Dental Care Providers Accept Medi-Cal?<\/h2>\n
Put Your Benefits to Work at Dental Express<\/h2>\n
Related Articles<\/h3>\n