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CALIFORNIA (CA) LIFELINE PROCESS

Last Update hace 3 días

(CA) - California Name Verification (CA) LifeLine Qualifying Programs/Methods (CA) - Eligibility Programs (CA) - Program - Based Qualification - Acceptable Documentation (CA) - Medi-Cal Qualification

(CA) - Medi-Cal Qualification

Added 08/14/24 Updated 5/14/25

Menchie Parilla

Last Update hace 6 meses

"Effective, Thursday, August 15, 2024 images of Benefit Identification Cards (BICs) will be the only acceptable documentation to qualify for CA Lifeline based on Medical participation)"

Important Reminder: Photocopies of BIC Cards are not acceptable as proof

  • Both card types are acceptable regardless of issue date. They can be issued over 12 months ago. 
  • Cards with or without gender indicated (M/F) can be accepted.

*When submitting Medi-Cal as the eligibility type, the ID Number will need to be submitted with the application. Verify the number on the card matches what is on the application.

Here is the info on how the Medi-Cal ID numbers should look. Most customers have a card with the BIC. They will be entering it like in the examples below. Some will also have a 9- or 10-character CIN. 

BIC(Benefit Identification Card) Number
14 alpha-numeric characters following the format of “9nnnnnnnAnnnnn” (where 9 = the number 9, n = numeric character, and A = an alpha character other than B, I, J, K, L, O, P, Q, R, or S). Sample: 91234567A96144
CIN(Client Index Number)
10 numeric characters. SampleExample: 6123456710 or 9 alpha-numeric characters following the format of “9nnnnnnnA” (where 9 = the number 9, n = numeric character, and A = an alpha character other than B, I, J, K, L, O, P, Q, R, or S). Sample: 91234567A

If the information does not match, reject the Program Proof as Rejected-BIC ID/CIN Mismatch.

Medi-Cal Qualification Acceptable Cards 

DHCS has introduced a new BIC design which adds a California poppy and the Medi-Cal logo to the card header.


Distribution of the new BIC design began in April for California residents who are new to Medi-Cal and for current Medi-Cal participants who need replacement cards due to a lost or damaged cards. The card below with the Medi-Cal logo on the top right corner is a valid proof.


Issued beginning April 1, 2025

  • California poppy design
  • California poppy and Medi-Cal logo in the card header

The card below is the oldest version. It is acceptable as long as they enter a valid 14 digit ID number.


Issued prior to September 2016

  • Cards issued prior to March 26, 2003, display the cardholder’s Social Security Number as the ID Number
  • Cards issued beginning March 26, 2023, display a 14 character alphanumeric ID Number

The card versions below are both acceptable. They include the ID number and the first version includes a gender indicator. The card does not need to have a gender indicator to be valid.


Issued from September 1, 2016 through August 31, 2021

  • California poppy design
  • Includes a gender indicator to the left of the date of birth

Issued from September 1, 2021 through March 31, 2025

  • California poppy design
  • Gender indicator was removed
Medi-CalQualification Temporary Benefit Identification Cards (BIC)
  • County Social Services District Offices are authorized to issue temporary Benefit Identification Cards for newly approved Medi-Cal participants with an immediate need for a card.


  • California Lifeline accepts images of paper temporary Benefit Identification Cards if the Issue Date is within the most recent seven (7) calendar days and the card matches the applicant’s name. 

Unusual Temporary BIC Document

Program Proof: the date of birth on the EBT must match the date of birth on the application. If the dates do not match, the documentation should be rejected

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