When a Medi-Cal service you need is not approved by a Medi-Cal field office or your managed care plan, you have the right to ask for a state hearing.

In most cases you only have 90 days to ask for a hearing. The 90 days starts the day after you were notified the service you want will not be provided. You have a much shorter time to ask for a hearing if your benefits are being changes or taken away. This also applies to you if you belong to a Medi-Cal managed care plan. If your doctor or other medical provider asks for a service your plan will not approve, or your plan will not continue to pay for a service you already have, you have the right to ask for a state hearing.

To keep the same benefits while you wait for a hearing, you must ask for a hearing before the date your benefits are changed or taken away so you will receive the same benefits until your hearing.

You can ask about your hearing rights or free legal aid at the state information number. Toll free 1-800-952-5253; hearing impaired 1-800-952-8349.

You may bring an attorney, or anyone else to the hearing. However, you must get the other person yourself.

You may get free legal help at your local legal aid office or welfare rights group.

To ask for a state hearing, send your request to:
Fair Hearings Section
P.O. Box 10280
Glendale, CA 91209