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Medi-Cal Dental (Denti-Cal) and vision (the dental and eye care that come with Medi-Cal): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next

Medi-Cal Dental and Medi-Cal vision care come with Medi-Cal, with no separate application. This page carries what the official pages say may be covered, the July 2027 change for some immigrant adults, the member line and the steps to find a dentist and appeal. Members find a dentist through Medi-Cal Dental at (800) 322-6384.

What Medi-Cal Dental and vision are, in one paragraph

Medi-Cal Dental is the dental part of Medi-Cal. A Medi-Cal member has it with no separate application (rule:member_benefit). Medi-Cal also covers vision care (rule:covers_dental_vision). The Department of Health Care Services runs Medi-Cal Dental; in Los Angeles and Sacramento counties members can be in a dental managed care plan (rule:managed_care_counties). The usual gap is that members do not know the benefit exists.

(800) 322-6384
the free Medi-Cal Dental member line, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday (DHCS Medi-Cal Dental, rule:member_line)

Who may qualify

Every Medi-Cal member; there is no separate income or asset test. The tests are Medi-Cal's, on Medi-Cal (California Medicaid health coverage): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next.

WhatCovered?Rule
Exams, x-rays, cleaningsMay be coveredrule:dental_services_basic
Extractions, fillings, crowns, root canalsMay be coveredrule:dental_services_restorative
DenturesMay be coveredrule:dental_dentures
Orthodontics (braces)May be coveredrule:dental_ortho
Emergency dental for severe pain, infection or tooth removalYes, regardless of immigration statusrule:emergency_dental_all
Dental during pregnancyYesrule:pregnancy_dental
Vision careYes; how often exams and glasses are paid is UNKNOWN on the pages read todayrule:covers_dental_vision, rule:vision_frequency

From 1 July 2027, full-coverage members 19 and older who are undocumented or have a temporary immigration status lose dental benefits (rule:dental_ends_2027).

How to use it, and what happens after

Find a dentist who takes Medi-Cal with the Find-A-Dentist directory or the member line (rule:member_line, rule:member_hours, rule:tty). In Los Angeles and Sacramento counties a dental plan member who cannot get an appointment can ask for a Beneficiary Dental Exception and move to fee-for-service Medi-Cal Dental (rule:bde); a representative calls within three business days (rule:bde_3_days). The request line is 855-347-3310 (rule:bde_phone).

Dental and vision continue as long as Medi-Cal does; the renewal is the Medi-Cal renewal. A member who disagrees with a decision has 90 days to request a state hearing (rule:hearing_90), at (800) 743-8525 (rule:hearing_phone).

The procedure, stage by stage, as data
JSONThe procedure, stage by stage, as data
9 items
10 keys
"id""stage:discover"
"order"1
"name""Discover"
"what_happens""A Medi-Cal member learns dental and vision care come with Medi-Cal (rule:member_benefit, rule:covers_dental_vision)"
"who_acts""Member / outreach"
"timeline""No deadline"
"evidence""Medi-Cal card"
"failure_mode""Not knowing the benefit exists"
"model_role""Tell every Medi-Cal member the dental benefit exists and how to find a dentist"
"automation_class""D - discovery is the gap"
10 keys
"id""stage:screen_eligibility"
"order"2
"name""Screen eligibility"
"what_happens""Eligibility is Medi-Cal membership; check immigration-related limits dated July 2027 (rule:dental_ends_2027) and emergency dental for everyone (rule:emergency_dental_all)"
"who_acts""Model + member"
"timeline""Minutes"
"evidence""Medi-Cal status, age, immigration group"
"failure_mode""A non-member assuming no dental help exists"
"model_role""Route non-members to california-medi-cal"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:find_dentist"
"order"3
"name""Find a dentist"
"what_happens""The member finds a Medi-Cal Dental provider with the Find-A-Dentist directory or the member line (rule:member_line); in Los Angeles and Sacramento counties through the dental plan (rule:managed_care_counties)"
"who_acts""Member"
"timeline""No deadline"
"evidence""Medi-Cal card"
"failure_mode""Calling dentists that do not take Medi-Cal"
"model_role""Give the directory link and the member line"
"automation_class""B - the member calls"
10 keys
"id""stage:issuance_use"
"order"4
"name""Issuance / use"
"what_happens""Exams, cleanings, fillings, extractions, crowns, root canals, dentures and orthodontics may be covered (rule:dental_services_basic, rule:dental_services_restorative, rule:dental_dentures, rule:dental_ortho); some treatment needs a Treatment Authorization Request (rule:tar)"
"who_acts""Dentist + Medi-Cal Dental"
"timeline""UNKNOWN: no page read today states the authorization time"
"evidence""Treatment plan"
"failure_mode""Paying out of pocket for a covered service"
"model_role""List what may be covered; tell the member to ask the dentist to bill Medi-Cal"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:report_changes"
"order"5
"name""Report changes"
"what_happens""Changes go to the county with the Medi-Cal case"
"who_acts""Member"
"timeline""With Medi-Cal"
"evidence""None"
"failure_mode""Losing Medi-Cal, and dental with it"
"model_role""Point to the Medi-Cal renewal"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:renew_recertify"
"order"6
"name""Renew / recertify"
"what_happens""Dental continues while Medi-Cal continues; renewal is the Medi-Cal renewal"
"who_acts""County + member"
"timeline""With Medi-Cal"
"evidence""Medi-Cal renewal"
"failure_mode""Missed Medi-Cal renewal"
"model_role""Track the Medi-Cal renewal month"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:denial_response"
"order"7
"name""Denial response"
"what_happens""A dental plan member who cannot get an appointment asks for a Beneficiary Dental Exception (rule:bde); the plan contacts them within three business days (rule:bde_3_days)"
"who_acts""Member + plan"
"timeline""3 business days"
"evidence""BDE request"
"failure_mode""Waiting months for an appointment"
"model_role""Name the exception and its number (rule:bde_phone)"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:appeal_fair_hearing"
"order"8
"name""Appeal / fair hearing"
"what_happens""A denied treatment or benefit can go to a state hearing (rule:hearing_90, rule:hearing_phone)"
"who_acts""Member + CDSS State Hearings Division"
"timeline""90 days"
"evidence""Notice of Action"
"failure_mode""Missing the 90-day line"
"model_role""State the deadline from the notice date"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:overpayment_exit"
"order"9
"name""Overpayment / exit"
"what_happens""Dental ends when Medi-Cal ends; from 1 July 2027 it ends for full-coverage members 19+ who are undocumented or have a temporary status (rule:dental_ends_2027)"
"who_acts""State"
"timeline""July 2027 for that group"
"evidence""Notice"
"failure_mode""Not finishing treatment before the date"
"model_role""Name the date"
"automation_class""C"

The same facts open other programs

Medi-Cal membership is the fact this benefit asks. It also opens:

References (6)
What this article shares with the graph
JSONWhat this article shares with the graph
6 keys
"program_id""B065"
"graph""california-benefits-graph"
"related_program_ids" 6 items
"B011"
"B080"
"B018"
"B073"
"B016"
"B017"
"related_programs" 6 keys
"B011""Medi-Cal (Medicaid) (level: Federal/State; administrator: CA Dept of Health Care Services + counties / Covered California; graph url: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal)"
"B080""State-only Medi-Cal categories for immigrants (incl. pregnancy & emergency) (level: State; administrator: DHCS; graph url: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal)"
"B018""California Children's Services (CCS)"
"B073""PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) (level: Federal/State; administrator: DHCS / PACE organizations; graph url: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal)"
"B016""Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) + CBAS (level: State; administrator: DHCS / local MSSP sites; graph url: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal)"
"B017""County indigent health programs (CMSP, Healthy San Francisco, county clinics)"
"triggered_by_events"
"shares_facts_with" 3 keys
"benefits.currently_receiving[]" 4 items
"B001"
"B009"
"B043"
"B047"
"person.identity.date_of_birth" 5 items
"B001"
"B011"
"B013"
"B023"
"B063"
"person.identity.immigration_status" 5 items
"B001"
"B002"
"B011"
"B024"
"B080"

Official addresses

References (6)
Related pages
References (20)
  1. Welcome to the Medi-Cal Dental Program: dental is a Medi-Cal benefit — California Department of Health Care Services, Medi-Cal Dental Program“The Medi-Cal Program currently offers dental services as one of the”
  2. Medi-Cal Dental: Members: dental managed care counties — California Department of Health Care Services, Medi-Cal Dental Program“Dental Managed Care (Los Angeles County and Sacramento County)”
  3. Medi-Cal Dental Member Contact Information: member phone — California Department of Health Care Services, Medi-Cal Dental Program“please call the Member Telephone Service Center at (800) 322-6384”
  4. Medi-Cal Dental Member Contact Information: hours — California Department of Health Care Services, Medi-Cal Dental Program“8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday to assist you.”
  5. Medi-Cal Dental Member Contact Information: TTY — California Department of Health Care Services, Medi-Cal Dental Program“Please call 1-800-735-2922 for Teletext Typewriter (TTY) assistance.”
  6. Medi-Cal Dental Member Contact Information: mailing address — California Department of Health Care Services, Medi-Cal Dental Program“P.O. Box 15539”
  7. Beneficiary Dental Exception (BDE): Beneficiary Dental Exception — California Department of Health Care Services, Medi-Cal Dental Program“The BDE allows a Dental MCP member to request to opt-out of Dental MCP and move to Fee-For-Service (FFS), if the member is unable to”
  8. Beneficiary Dental Exception (BDE): three business days — California Department of Health Care Services, Medi-Cal Dental Program“representative will contact the member within three (3) business days to assist the”
  9. Beneficiary Dental Exception (BDE): BDE phone — California Department of Health Care Services, Medi-Cal Dental Program“BDE phone line (855-347-3310)”
  10. Medi-Cal Dental Member Contact Information: treatment authorization — California Department of Health Care Services, Medi-Cal Dental Program“Questions regarding your Treatment Authorization Request (TAR).”
  11. Medi-Cal | Covered California: what it covers — Covered California“Medi-Cal covers health, dental and vision care for you and your children, often at little or no cost.”
  12. Use Medi-Cal | SFHSA: dental services — San Francisco Human Services Agency (county Medi-Cal office)“Exams, x-rays, cleanings”
  13. Use Medi-Cal | SFHSA: dental services — San Francisco Human Services Agency (county Medi-Cal office)“Extractions, fillings, crowns, root canal”
  14. Use Medi-Cal | SFHSA: dentures — San Francisco Human Services Agency (county Medi-Cal office)“Dentures”
  15. Use Medi-Cal | SFHSA: orthodontics — San Francisco Human Services Agency (county Medi-Cal office)“Orthodontics (braces)”
  16. Immigrants | Covered California: emergency dental for everyone — Covered California“emergency dental care for severe pain, infection or tooth removal”
  17. Medi-Cal during pregnancy | Covered California: pregnancy dental — Covered California“All medically necessary services, plus dental and mental health services”
  18. Public Benefits Changes Coming Soon | SFHSA: dental from 1 July 2027 — San Francisco Human Services Agency (county Medi-Cal office)“Full Medi-Cal coverage recipients age 19 and older who are undocumented or have temporary immigration status will lose dental benefits.”
  19. Hearing Requests | CDSS: the 90 days — California Department of Social Services, State Hearings Division“you have 90 days to request a state hearing.”
  20. Hearing Requests | CDSS: phone — California Department of Social Services, State Hearings Division“Call the State Hearings Division toll free (800) 743-8525”