CenCal Health Programs

CenCal Health offers a program called the Health Initiative (Medi-Cal) for low income residents of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. Please note that CenCal Health does not determine eligibility for Covered California or Medi-Cal.

Health Initiative (Medi-Cal)

CenCal Health is the Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Plan for Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties for low income residents.  Once a resident is granted Medi-Cal, they are automatically inscribed (enrolled) into the CenCal Health Plan. New Members receive a Welcome Packet that provides a Member Handbook also known as an Evidence of Coverage that explains the benefits available to members along with a listing of doctors, specialty providers, hospitals, pharmacies available to members of CenCal Health.

Medi-Cal (California’s version of Medicaid), is a publicly-funded health care program for the low income residents. CenCal Health is a public entity that is governed by a 13 member Board of Directors appointed by the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo county boards of supervisors.

Medi-Cal ensures that children and adults with limited income and resources can receive medical, mental and behavioral health services at little or no cost.

This low income program includes:

• Families with children
• Foster care children
• Pregnant women
• Childless adults
• Seniors
• Persons with disabilities

CenCal Health’s Medi-Cal Plan is your Managed Care Health Plan. Since starting in 1983, CenCal Health has created access to high quality health care for its members by contracting with many local doctors, specialists and hospitals in both counties.

As a CenCal Health Member, you are able to choose a Primary Care Doctor that will help coordinate your medical care needs. CenCal Health provides medical, mental and behavioral health services. If you have a question about these services, please call our Member Service Department at (877) 814-1861 or CA Relay 711 for the hearing impaired. To view what benefits and services are available to you as a CenCal Health member, view the following link: Your Benefits/ Member Handbook