CA - Medi-Cal Documentation
Acceptable documentation for applicants seeking to qualify based on current Medi-Cal participation:
The California Department of Health Care Services has confirmed that all current Medi-Cal participants have Beneficiary Identification Cards (BIC).
Effective Thursday, August 15, 2024, applicants seeking to qualify for California LifeLine based on current Medi-Cal participation must submit eligibility documentation which displays their assigned Client Index Number (CIN), which are the first 8 numeric characters followed by an alpha character of the BIC identification numbers.
Medi-Cal Beneficiary Identification Cards (BIC)
Permanent BICs are plastic cards with printing on the front and back.
Two BIC formats are in use:
DHCS has introduced a new BIC design which adds a California poppy and the Medi-Cal logo to the card header. Issue date: April 1, 2025.
The front of BICs display basic information about the cardholder
- Name
- Sex: M (male) or F (female). Note: the Sex indicator was removed from cards issued after 8/31/2021
- Date of Birth (MMDDYYYY)
- Issue Date (MMDDYY): the date the card was issued (The expiration date is irrelevant, since it will not be taken into consideration for approval.)
- Cardholder ID Number (alphanumeric, 14 characters) is comprised of the cardholder’s Client Index Number (CIN) followed by a “check digit” followed by a 4-digit Julian (calendar) date that matches the date of issuance on the BIC
Note: Only the first 9 digits (CIN) will be required, even though the card shows 10 or more digits total.
o CINs are unique identifiers assigned to individual cardholders. CINs are the first 8 numeric digits and an alpha character of BIC ID numbers
o Prior to March 26, 2003, BIC ID numbers were the cardholders’ Social Security Numbers. New or replacement BICs issued on or after March 26, 2003, have the CIN printed on the front of the BIC instead of the cardholder’s SSN
Although the TPA requires Service Providers to submit images of applicants’ BICs when applicants seek to qualify for CA LifeLine based on Medi-Cal participation, Service Providers can request additional information from consumers to demonstrate active Medi-Cal participation, such as Notices of Approval, Notices of Action, and Managed Care Health Plan ID Cards.
Temporary Benefit Identification Cards (BIC)
County Social Services District Offices are authorized to issue temporary Benefit Identification Cards for newly approved Medi-Cal participants with an immediate need for a card
· The TPA accepts images of paper temporary Benefit Identification Cards if the Issue Date is within the most recent seven (7) calendar days and the card matches the applicant or BQP’s name exactly. A successful AEVS check is required to establish LifeLine eligibility