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Every Woman Counts and the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program (free cancer screening, and Medi-Cal for treatment): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next

Every Woman Counts gives free breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnosis to uninsured or underinsured low-income Californians: breast screening from age 40, cervical from 21, diagnostic tests at any age with symptoms. The Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program then gives Medi-Cal coverage for treatment to people diagnosed with either cancer whose income is under the limit. Apply through an EWC or Family PACT provider or the county office.

What Every Woman Counts and BCCTP is, in one paragraph

These are two linked California programs. Every Woman Counts (EWC) pays for breast and cervical cancer screening, diagnostic tests and treatment referrals for low-income people who have no or limited insurance (rule:ewc_definition). The Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program (BCCTP) gives Medi-Cal coverage for treatment to Californians diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer whose income is under the limit, including people over 65 and people with insurance that does not cover all of the treatment (rule:bcctp_definition, rule:bcctp_eligibility). EWC providers start the BCCTP application when screening finds cancer.

$2,660 a month
income limit for a family of one for Every Woman Counts screening and for BCCTP treatment coverage, 2026 (DHCS, rule:ewc_income_200, rule:bcctp_income)

Who may qualify

Every Woman Counts (rule:ewc_breast, rule:ewc_cervical, rule:ewc_other_tests):

  • Breast: routine screening for women 40 or older; diagnostic services at any age, regardless of gender, for anyone with symptoms.
  • Cervical: 21 or older.
  • No or limited insurance; not getting these services through Medi-Cal or another government program; living in California.

BCCTP (rule:bcctp_eligibility): living in California, diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer and needing treatment, and income under the limit. Family size is the applicant, a spouse, and their children under 21 at home; an adult child's income does not count.

Both programs use 200% of the 2026 poverty guidelines (rule:ewc_income_200, rule:bcctp_income):

Family sizeMonthly incomeAnnual income
1$2,660$31,920
2$3,608$43,280
3$4,554$54,640
4$5,500$66,000
5$6,448$77,360
6$7,394$88,720
7$8,340$100,080
8$9,288$111,440
9 (BCCTP)$10,234$122,800
10 (BCCTP)$11,180$134,160
each additional (EWC)+$948+$11,360

Immigration: from 1 January 2026 some new adult BCCTP applicants get only limited-scope Medi-Cal for the cancer treatment, not full scope; people already enrolled keep their coverage if they renew on time (rule:bcctp_immigration_2026).

How to apply, and what happens after

For screening, find an EWC provider with the provider locator or call the EWC line, available 24 hours a day in many languages (rule:contact). The provider enrolls you.

For treatment after a diagnosis, apply for BCCTP in one of three ways: through an EWC provider, through a Family PACT provider, or at the county social services office. A BCCTP eligibility specialist calls you (rule:bcctp_apply). Ask for retroactive Medi-Cal: it can pay for treatment in the 90 days before applying, falling to 60 days from 1 January 2027 (rule:bcctp_retro). An approved person gets a Medi-Cal card and keeps coverage as long as treatment is needed (rule:bcctp_benefit). From 2027 some members get care through fee-for-service Medi-Cal (rule:bcctp_ffs_2027), and from 1 July 2027 some lose full dental coverage because of immigration status (rule:bcctp_dental_2027).

Every 12 months BCCTP mails a redetermination packet with a physician statement; return it by the due date (rule:bcctp_redetermination). If coverage ends, there are 90 days to fix the problem and restore it (rule:bcctp_restore_90), and the county checks other Medi-Cal before it ends (rule:bcctp_county_review).

Disagree with a BCCTP decision? Request a State Hearing within 90 days of receiving the notice; within 10 days to keep coverage during the hearing (rule:fair_hearing_90).

The procedure, stage by stage, as data
JSONThe procedure, stage by stage, as data
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"model_role""Ask about retroactive Medi-Cal"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:issuance_use"
"order"7
"name""Issuance / use"
"what_happens""Medi-Cal card (BIC) used for treatment; fee-for-service for some from 2027; premium reimbursement for other insurance"
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"failure_mode""Not showing the card at the pharmacy"
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10 keys
"id""stage:report_changes"
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"name""Report changes"
"what_happens""Report address and other changes to BCCTP"
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"failure_mode""Missing renewal packets after a move"
"model_role""Prompt address updates"
"automation_class""A"
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"id""stage:renew_recertify"
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"name""Renew / recertify"
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"timeline""Every 12 months, by the due date"
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"failure_mode""Late return ends coverage; 90 days to restore"
"model_role""Remind the person of the due date and the 90-day restore window"
"automation_class""B"
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"id""stage:denial_response"
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"id""stage:appeal_fair_hearing"
"order"11
"name""Appeal / fair hearing"
"what_happens""Request a State Hearing with the California Department of Social Services"
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"timeline""Within 90 days of receiving the notice; within 10 days to keep benefits"
"evidence""Hearing request"
"failure_mode""Missing the 10-day window"
"model_role""State both deadlines"
"automation_class""B"

The same facts open other programs

Age, family size, monthly income and insurance are the facts these programs run on. The same 200% line decides Family PACT.

What this article shares with the graph
JSONWhat this article shares with the graph
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"B019""Family PACT"
"B011""Medi-Cal (Medicaid)"
"B012""Covered California premium tax credits (APTC)"
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"B001"
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Official addresses

Related pages
References (19)
  1. Every Woman Counts — California Department of Health Care Services“The Every Woman Counts (EWC) Program provides free breast cancer and cervical cancer screening, diagnostic services and treatment referrals to eligible uninsured and underinsured low-income California residents.”
  2. Every Woman Counts: breast screening — California Department of Health Care Services“Are a women 40 years old or older, you may qualify for routine breast cancer screenings”
  3. Every Woman Counts: cervical screening — California Department of Health Care Services“are 21 years old or older”
  4. Every Woman Counts: other requirements — California Department of Health Care Services“are not getting these services through Medi-Cal or another government-sponsored program”
  5. 2026 Income Eligibility Guidelines, Every Woman Counts Program — California Department of Health Care Services“income at or below 200 percent of the HHS FPG.”
  6. Welcome to the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program — California Department of Health Care Services“This program provides coverage for cancer treatment to eligible low-income California residents diagnosed with breast and/or cervical cancer.”
  7. BCCTP: who can get it — California Department of Health Care Services“If you are age 65 or older, or have other health coverage, you may still qualify.”
  8. BCCTP: income — California Department of Health Care Services“For BCCTP, the family size is the total number of persons in the home which includes the applicant, spouse, and their children under 21 years of age.”
  9. BCCTP: how long coverage lasts — California Department of Health Care Services“You can access needed care as long as you need cancer treatment and meet other criteria.”
  10. BCCTP: 2026 enrollment freeze — California Department of Health Care Services“However, eligible applicants may still receive limited scope BCCTP Medi-Cal to cover treatment for breast and cervical cancer.”
  11. BCCTP: retroactive coverage — California Department of Health Care Services“Starting January 1, 2027, BCCTP retroactive Medi-Cal coverage will be reduced from 90 days to 60 days.”
  12. BCCTP: fee-for-service — California Department of Health Care Services“Starting January 1, 2027, some BCCTP applicants will receive care through Fee-For-Service (FFS) Medi-Cal instead of through a health plan.”
  13. BCCTP: how to apply — California Department of Health Care Services“A BCCTP Eligibility Specialist will call you directly.”
  14. BCCTP: annual redetermination — California Department of Health Care Services“You must return an annual redetermination packet, which will be sent to you every 12 months by mail.”
  15. BCCTP: contact — California Department of Health Care Services“Contact us if you need help by calling 1-800-824-0088 or emailing BCCTP@dhcs.ca.gov.”
  16. BCCTP Member Section: dental — California Department of Health Care Services“Starting July 1, 2027, some BCCTP members will stop getting full scope dental services as part of their coverage because of their immigration status.”
  17. BCCTP Member Section: restore coverage — California Department of Health Care Services“If your BCCTP Medi-Cal ends, you have 90 days to fix the problem and restore your coverage.”
  18. BCCTP Member Section: county review — California Department of Health Care Services“Your BCCTP Medi-Cal coverage will continue while the County Social Services office reviews your information.”
  19. Medi-Cal Fair Hearing — California Department of Health Care Services“You may be able to file after 90 days if you have a good reason, like illness or a disability.”