{"id":10441,"date":"2024-08-12T00:48:33","date_gmt":"2024-08-12T00:48:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/?p=10441"},"modified":"2025-12-24T16:16:38","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T16:16:38","slug":"affordable-insurance-options-beyond-medi-cal-or-medicaid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/health-insurance\/affordable-insurance-options-beyond-medi-cal-or-medicaid\/","title":{"rendered":"The Road to Affordable Healthcare: Navigating Your Insurance Options Beyond Medi-Cal or Medicaid\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you used to be covered by Medicaid or Medi-Cal and your healthcare plan recently expired, you may wonder if you can find cheap health insurance in California<\/a>. California affordable health insurance is available, but it can be intimidating to find a new plan if you\u2019re not sure where to start. By exploring how health insurance works in California, you can find a plan that fits your budget and gets you the coverage you need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding Affordable Health Insurance in California<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s no secret that California can be an expensive place to live. If you\u2019re on a budget, the last thing you need is expensive health premiums taking up your monthly budget. Luckily, there are several options for people who want to save on health care, even if they don\u2019t qualify for California\u2019s official Medicare program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember, everyone in California is required to have health insurance. You will be penalized on your taxes if you are found to have opted out of health coverage the prior year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Navigating Your Insurance Options Beyond Medi-Cal or Medicaid<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to affordable coverage options, your mind might immediately go to Medicaid or Medi-Cal. You may wonder about the difference between Medi-Cal and Medicaid<\/a>, but they actually refer to the same program. Medi-Cal is simply the name for California\u2019s Medicaid system. But if you don\u2019t qualify or your eligibility recently ended, you do have other options for Medicaid alternative insurance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can purchase insurance on the healthcare marketplace, which is designed to support people who aren\u2019t eligible for state-sponsored insurance. These plans are regulated by the government, which means they all meet certain minimum coverage standards to ensure you can get the care you need. If your employer offers health coverage, you may also be able to set up a plan through your job. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding the California Healthcare Market<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

California\u2019s private health insurance marketplace is known as Covered California. The Covered California website was established after the launch of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and provides a convenient place for Californians to look for ACA-compliant plans. When shopping for coverage, you\u2019ll find three main categories of policies: <\/p>\n\n\n\n