Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens

Under California and federal law, all children and youth to age 21 enrolled in Medi-Cal have the right to regular check-ups and other preventive and treatment services needed to stay or get healthy.

This right is known in federal law as the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) requirement. It ensures that every child enrolled in Medi-Cal gets the care they need to grow up as healthy as possible. In California, EPSDT is called Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens.

The services are free, unless the child or youth was found to have a Share of Cost (SOC) when they qualified for Medi-Cal.

Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens must cover these services if needed, without limits:

Physical health services, including primary care and specialist visits.
Vision services, including eyeglasses.
Hearing services.
Dental check-ups and follow-up services.
Mental health and drug or alcohol addiction services, including therapy.
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
Medical equipment and supplies, such as wheelchairs, including durable medical equipment.
Medication, both over-the-counter and prescribed.
Lab tests, including blood tests to check lead levels and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, and any needed follow-up care.
Home health services, including nursing care.
Hospital and residential treatment.
Reproductive and sexual health services, such as birth control and abortion care.
Pregnancy check-ups.
COVID-19 testing and treatment.
Care coordination, if enrolled in a managed care plan.
All other needed medical services that can be covered under Medi-Cal (known as “medically necessary services”) as determined by your medical provider.

Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens

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