PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION SO YOU WILL KNOW FROM WHOM OR WHAT GROUP OF PROVIDERS HEALTH CARE MAY BE OBTAINED.
You can start getting health care services on your effective date of enrollment in L.A. Care. Always carry with you your L.A. Care Identification (ID) card, Medi-Cal Benefits Identification Card (BIC), and any other health insurance cards. Never let anyone else use your BIC or L.A. Care ID card.
New members with only Medi-Cal coverage must choose a primary care provider (PCP) in the L.A. Care network.
New members with both Medi-Cal and comprehensive other health coverage do not have to choose a PCP.
The L.A. Care network is a group of doctors, hospitals, and other providers who work with L.A. Care. You must choose a PCP within 30 days from the time you become a member of L.A. Care. If you do not choose a PCP, L.A. Care will choose one for you.
You can choose the same PCP or different PCPs for all family members in L.A. Care, as long as the PCP is available. If you have a doctor you want to keep, or you want to find a new PCP, go to the online Provider Directory. for a list of all PCPs and other providers in the L.A. Care network.
The Provider Directory has other information to help you choose a PCP. If you need a Provider Directory, call Member Services at 1-888-839-9909 (TTY: 711) or download a digital copy from the Medi-Cal Member Materials page.
If you cannot get the care you need from a participating provider in the L.A. Care network, your PCP or specialist in L.A. Care’s network must ask L.A. Care for approval to send you to an out-of-network provider. This is called a referral. You do not need a referral to go to an out-of-network provider to get sensitive care services that are described on the Sensitive care page of this online handbook.
Read the rest of this "How To Get Care" section to learn more about PCPs, the Provider Directory and the provider network.
The Medi-Cal Rx program administers outpatient prescription drug coverage.
To learn more, visit the Medi-Cal Rx website or, go to the Outpatient Prescription Drugs page in this handbook.