HEALTH COVERAGE
Free Medi-Cal Until Age 26 for Former Foster Youth
If you are under 26, live in California, and were in foster care on your 18th birthday or later, you may qualify for the Former Foster Youth Medi-Cal program regardless of income. Coverage includes medical care and may include dental, vision, mental health, and substance-use treatment.
IMPORTANT: You may qualify for free Medi-Cal until your 26th birthday.
Do You Qualify?
Are You Under 26 Years Old?
Do you live in California now?
Were You in Foster Care on Your 18th Birthday or Later?
Check Your ZIP Code
Enter your ZIP code to confirm this is the right program for where you live.
Before You Apply
- Have your date of birth and a California address ready.
- Bring anything showing you were in foster care at 18 or older — a court letter, a case number, or a caseworker’s contact. Missing paperwork should not stop you from applying.
- You can sign up at any time. Say that you were in foster care at age 18 or older, and say which state you were in foster care in, so it can be verified.
- Watch your mail and phone for follow-up questions.
This checklist is for guidance only. Help Foster Youth is a directory — we do not decide eligibility or process applications. Your state agency is always the final word.