Other No or Low Cost Health Insurance Plans
In addition to Medi-Cal and Healthy Families, there are other low-cost health insurance plans available to low-income and uninsured children.
California Children’s Health Initiatives (CCHIs)
The California Children’s Health Initiatives (CCHIs) provide health coverage to many of California’s children who are not eligible for Healthy Families or Medi-Cal. The CCHIs started in 2001 and now operate in 29 out of California’s 58 counties, providing coverage through the Healthy Kids and Cal Kids programs. In 2008, there were 75,000 children enrolled in CHI programs.
While eligibility requirements vary by county, children who are not eligible for Healthy Families or Medi-Cal due to income can be eligible for Healthy Kids and Cal Kids, which insure children whose families’ income is up to 300% of the federal poverty level. Additionally, children who are not qualified immigrants can be eligible for a CHI program.
There are CHIs in the following counties:
- Alameda
- Colusa
- Del Norte
- El Dorado
- Fresno
- Humboldt
- Kern
- Los Angeles
- Marin
- Mendocino
- Merced
- Napa
- Orange
- Placer
- Riverside
- Sacramento
- San Bernardino
- San Francisco
- San Joaquin
- San Mateo
- San Luis Obispo
- Santa Barbara
- Santa Clara
- Santa Cruz
- Solano
- Sonoma
- Yolo
- Tulare
- Yuba
For contact or more information on the local CHIs, click here.
Kaiser Permanente offers its Kaiser Child Health Plan in select counties of California; serving a similar population to the CCHI programs. Children cannot be eligible for either Medi-Cal or Healthy Families due to income or immigration status in order to be eligible for Kaiser Child Health Plan.
Kaiser Child Health Plan is available in the following areas. However, the program opens and closes in different counties and may be available to residents only in certain zip codes. For the most up to date information, contact Kaiser, 1-800-464-4000, or visit their website for more information.
- Alameda
- Amador (Partial Coverage*)
- Contra Costa
- El Dorado (Partial Coverage*)
- Fresno (Partial Coverage*)
- Kings (Partial Coverage*)
- Los Angeles (Partial Coverage*)
- Madera (Partial Coverage*)
- Marin
- Mariposa (Partial Coverage*)
- Napa (Partial Coverage*)
- Orange County (Partial Coverage*)
- Placer (Partial Coverage*)
- Sacramento
- San Francisco
- San Joaquin
- San Mateo
- Santa Clara (Partial Coverage*)
- Solano
- Sonoma (Partial Coverage*)
- Stanislaus
- Sutter (Partial Coverage*)
- Tulare (Partial Coverage*)
- Yolo (Partial Coverage*)
- Yuba (Partial Coverage*)
*Partial Coverage mean that not all zip codes in the county are currently covered by Kaiser Child Health Plan.
Children who are unable to enroll into Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, a CHI program, or Kaiser Child Health Plan might be able to receive medical care through other no or low cost health insurance programs.
- Access for Infants and Mothers (AIM): This program provides subsidized health insurance for pregnant women throughout their pregnancy and for 60 days after the child is born. The child is eligible for Healthy Families for up to two years after birth.
- California Children’s Services (CCS): CCS provides treatment and case management services for children under age 21 with serious medical problems such as chonic illness, genetic diseases, physical handicaps, major injuries due to violence and accidents, congenital defects, and conditions requiring treatment in neonatal intensive care units.
- CaliforniaKids: This program provides low cost primary health care coverage to uninsured children from ages 2 through 18. There are no immigration status requirements.
- Child Health Disability and Prevention Program (CHDP): CHDP provides preventative health assessments to eligible infants, children and youth.
- Child Health Disability and Prevention Program Gateway: Children can temporarily be enrolled in Medi-Cal for up to two months through this program. This enrollment occurs at the time of the CHDP examination.
- Family PACT: Family PACT provides family planning services to California’s low income men and women.
- Indian Health Program: Through this program, Native American children can receive no-cost comprehensive health insurance.