7.2) Medi-Cal - Acceptable documentation & Approval Process
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
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
California Medicaid Approval Process
Agents must take into account that if the customer qualifies with Medi-Cal, the only acceptable documents are the following:
When the applicant selects Medi-Cal as their Qualifying program, a pop-up window will be displayed, and the agent have to CONFIRM that the benefit number is available, so that it can be introduced in the Quest app.
After clicking on confirm, ST agents will have to introduce the benefit number displayed in the Medi-Cal card.
In the Benefit Number box, ST agents will also find the option to Scan the applicant’s card to prepopulate the card number
In case the Benefit Number ID can’t be obtained, the following message and options will be displayed:
If the Quest app accepts the ID number, it will be added below the qualifying program.
Verifying Current Medi-Cal Eligibility
A Benefits Identification Card (BIC) alone does not verify current Medi-Cal eligibility. A BIC confirms that an individual has been issued a Medi-Cal identification number, but does not verify current Medi-Cal eligibility or active enrollment
For this reason, Starting Juli 31st, 2026, additional documentation may be needed to verify a prospective applicant’s current Medi-Cal eligibility. An image of the applicant's BIC must be submitted to the TPA, and in some cases, Safelink may request additional documentation to verify current Medi-Cal eligibility prior to enrollment submission.