If I have Illinois Medicaid, am I covered in California?

Question

I live in Illinois now, but will be going to college in Calfornia in August. They require that I have health insurance. I have Illinois Medicaid now, am I covered in California? If I need new insurance to be covered in California..how do I go about getting it? Thanks =)

Answer 1

I think you should know the answer to your own question already.  Would it make even the tiniest bit of sense to you that if you become a California resident and start attending college out there, that the taxpayers of Illinois should be liable for your medical bills?

If your school is requiring you to have health insurance to attend, you may have to go with the policy the school offers until you can investigate whether you'll qualify for MediCal.  (California's Medicaid equivalent)  Or get a job that comes with health benefits.  Or purchase your own private coverage.  Those are your options, but keeping your Illinois Medicaid coverage while you're no longer living in Illinois is not.

Answer 2

You will not be covered if you leave Illinois, however it is possible that if you are just visiting california and you have an accident there you may be able to get the bill paid for through Medicaid out of state recovery branch. You will have to call your local office to get that phone#.

If you are planning on moving to California you will have to apply for Medi-Cal at your local office. There is no transferring between states. However once you are eligible to Medi-Cal you can move anywhere else in California and have it transferred.

Answer 3

It's my understanding that the Illinois Medicaid only covers you in Illinois.  So you would need to call your counties health dept (where you applied for your card at) & see what you need to do to be covered in both states.

Answer 4

Illinois medicaid will not cover you in CA. The only way you will qualify for medicaid in CA (Medi-Cal) is if you are disabled or have children. If you are in neither of these catagories, you will need to find insurance elsewhere. Perhaps your college offers it. Or you may be able to get a catastrophic policy to cover a major illness or accident from a CA insurance broker that would be affordable.

Answer 5

You will have insurance covered while you are visiting. But you will need to find out where the place in california is to get your illinois insurance transferred to. If you get sick while you are visiting another palace Illinois will pay, however if you are going to be staying there, then you will need to transfer the Insurance information. Most colleges do have student health programs covered by pell grants and paid when you pay admission bills.

Answer 6

No visiting or not Medicaid is only good in the state where it was issued. Illinois will not pay another state for your medical bills.

Answer 7

You will need to get medical insurance in CA.