Last Updated: August 29, 2026
Find Your 2026 Medi-Cal Health Plan by County
After you qualify for Medi-Cal, one of the next questions you may have is: “Which Medi-Cal health plan can I use?”
The answer depends largely on the California county where you live.
Medi-Cal Managed Care health plan options are not the same in every county. Some counties have more than one plan, while in other counties members may be automatically enrolled in a health plan.
This guide explains how to find the Medi-Cal health plans available in your county and what to check before choosing a plan.
Use the official California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Plan Directory to select your county and see the health plans currently available where you live.
1. Why Does Your County Matter?
California operates Medi-Cal Managed Care using different health plan arrangements throughout the state.
Because of this, a Medi-Cal health plan available in Los Angeles County may not be available in Sacramento, Orange, San Diego, Alameda, or another county.
Your county is therefore one of the first things you should check when trying to determine which Medi-Cal health plan you can use.
2. Use the Official DHCS County Directory
The easiest way to check current Medi-Cal health plan options is to use the official DHCS Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Plan Directory.
Open the directory and select your county.
→ Find Medi-Cal Health Plans by County
The DHCS directory provides current health plan information for California counties.
3. California's 58 Counties
The DHCS directory allows you to look up Medi-Cal health plan information for California's 58 counties.
California Counties:
Alameda • Alpine • Amador • Butte • Calaveras • Colusa • Contra Costa • Del Norte • El Dorado • Fresno • Glenn • Humboldt • Imperial • Inyo • Kern • Kings • Lake • Lassen • Los Angeles • Madera • Marin • Mariposa • Mendocino • Merced • Modoc • Mono • Monterey • Napa • Nevada • Orange • Placer • Plumas • Riverside • Sacramento • San Benito • San Bernardino • San Diego • San Francisco • San Joaquin • San Luis Obispo • San Mateo • Santa Barbara • Santa Clara • Santa Cruz • Shasta • Sierra • Siskiyou • Solano • Sonoma • Stanislaus • Sutter • Tehama • Trinity • Tulare • Tuolumne • Ventura • Yolo • Yuba
4. What Happens When You Select Your County?
After selecting your county in the DHCS directory, you can see the Medi-Cal Managed Care health plans associated with that county.
The county page may also explain whether you:
- Need to choose a Medi-Cal health plan
- Will be automatically enrolled
- Have multiple plan options
- May qualify for certain other care options
- Need to contact Medi-Cal Health Care Options for enrollment assistance
5. Some Counties Require You to Choose a Plan
When you first qualify for Medi-Cal, you may initially receive coverage through Fee-for-Service (FFS) Medi-Cal.
Depending on your county, you may then receive information asking you to select a Medi-Cal Managed Care health plan.
If you are required to select a plan, you may have 30 days to make your choice.
If you are required to choose a Medi-Cal health plan and do not choose one within the required 30-day period, Medi-Cal may choose a health plan for you.
6. Some Counties Use Automatic Enrollment
Not every Medi-Cal member has to select from multiple health plans.
In some counties, eligible members may be automatically enrolled in an available Medi-Cal health plan.
If this applies to you, you should receive enrollment confirmation and information from your Medi-Cal health plan.
The enrollment process is not identical in every California county. Always check the current DHCS county page instead of assuming that the process in another county applies to you.
7. Do Not Choose a Plan Based Only on Its Name
If you have more than one Medi-Cal health plan available, choosing the right plan involves more than comparing plan names.
One of the most important questions is whether the doctors, clinics, hospitals, and specialists you want to use participate in the plan's network.
Before choosing a plan, consider checking:
- Your current Primary Care Provider (PCP)
- Your preferred clinic
- Your preferred hospital
- Specialists you currently see
- Medical groups associated with your doctors
- Nearby urgent care locations
- Language services
- Transportation services
- Other member services important to you
8. Check Whether Your Doctor Accepts the Specific Plan
A doctor saying “we accept Medi-Cal” does not necessarily mean the doctor accepts every Medi-Cal Managed Care health plan.
For example, a medical office may participate with one Medi-Cal plan but not another plan available in the same county.
Call the doctor's office and give them the exact name of the Medi-Cal health plan you are considering. Ask whether the doctor currently accepts that specific plan and whether the doctor is accepting new patients.
9. Also Check the Health Plan's Provider Directory
You should also check the health plan's official provider directory.
Provider directories can help you search for:
- Primary Care Providers
- Specialists
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Languages spoken
- Providers accepting new patients
- Other available services
Because provider participation can change, it is a good idea to verify the information directly with the provider before making an appointment.
10. What About Kaiser Permanente?
Kaiser Permanente may appear as a Medi-Cal health plan option in certain counties, but this does not necessarily mean every Medi-Cal member in that county can enroll in Kaiser.
Eligibility to enroll in Kaiser Permanente through Medi-Cal may depend on specific requirements, such as prior Kaiser membership, qualifying family linkage, foster care status, or having both Medicare and Medi-Cal.
If Kaiser appears on your county's DHCS page, review the eligibility information carefully or contact Medi-Cal Health Care Options before assuming you can select Kaiser.
11. What If You Have Both Medicare and Medi-Cal?
If you have both Medicare and Medi-Cal, your health plan choices may be different from those of someone who has Medi-Cal only.
California offers Medi-Medi Plans in many counties.
Medi-Medi Plans are Medicare Advantage plans designed for people who have both Medicare and Medi-Cal and can coordinate Medicare and Medi-Cal benefits through one plan.
Starting in 2026, Medi-Medi Plans are available for enrollment in most California counties, although plan availability varies by county.
If you have both Medicare and Medi-Cal, check the separate DHCS Medi-Medi Plan directory before making a health plan decision.
12. What Is PACE?
Some county pages may also list PACE programs.
PACE stands for Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly.
PACE may be available to certain people age 55 or older who need a higher level of care and meet other eligibility requirements.
PACE is not simply another standard Medi-Cal Managed Care plan, so if it appears on your county page, review its separate eligibility requirements before considering enrollment.
13. How Do You Enroll in a Medi-Cal Health Plan?
If you need to select a Medi-Cal Managed Care health plan, Medi-Cal Health Care Options (HCO) can help with enrollment.
You can contact Health Care Options at:
- Phone: 1-800-430-4263
- TTY: 1-800-430-7077
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
You can also visit:
14. What Happens After You Choose a Plan?
After your Medi-Cal health plan enrollment is processed, you should receive confirmation of your enrollment.
Your new health plan will also send you information about your coverage.
This may include:
- Your health plan member ID card
- Member Services contact information
- Your Primary Care Provider information
- Provider directory information
- Member handbook information
- Instructions for using your benefits
15. Can You Change Your Medi-Cal Health Plan?
Depending on your county, eligibility, and available plans, you may be able to change your Medi-Cal health plan.
If you want to change plans, contact Medi-Cal Health Care Options to find out which plans are currently available to you and when a change can become effective.
Before changing plans, check whether your doctors, specialists, hospitals, and other providers participate in the new plan.
16. What If You Move to Another County?
If you move to another California county, report your new address promptly.
Because Medi-Cal Managed Care health plan availability is county-based, moving to another county may affect which health plan you can use.
Contact your county or update your information through the appropriate benefits system and watch for new health plan enrollment information.
17. Quick Health Plan Checklist
Before choosing your Medi-Cal health plan:
- ✓ Find your county in the official DHCS directory.
- ✓ Check which plans are currently available.
- ✓ Determine whether you need to choose a plan or will be automatically enrolled.
- ✓ Check whether your current doctor accepts the specific plan.
- ✓ Check hospitals and medical groups.
- ✓ Check specialists you currently use.
- ✓ Confirm that providers are accepting new patients.
- ✓ Compare additional member services.
- ✓ Choose your plan within the required deadline.
- ✓ Keep your enrollment confirmation and health plan information.
18. Key Takeaway
Your Medi-Cal health plan options depend largely on the California county where you live.
Use the official DHCS Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Plan Directory to find the plans currently associated with your county.
If you have multiple choices, check your doctors, hospitals, specialists, and medical groups before selecting a plan.
If you are required to choose a plan, pay attention to your enrollment deadline. If you do not choose within the required period, Medi-Cal may select a health plan for you.
Because health plan availability and provider networks can change, always verify current information before enrolling.
Official Sources & Resources
- California DHCS – Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Plan Directory
- California DHCS – Medi-Cal Managed Care FAQs
- Medi-Cal Health Care Options
- California DHCS – Medi-Medi Plan List
- California DHCS – Medi-Cal Managed Care Contact Information
Disclaimer: California Benefits Guide is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), Medi-Cal Health Care Options, any Medi-Cal health plan, or any other government agency.
Medi-Cal health plan availability, enrollment rules, provider networks, eligibility requirements, and other program information may change. This article provides general information only. Always verify current health plan options and enrollment information with DHCS, Medi-Cal Health Care Options, your county, or the health plan before making a health care or enrollment decision.