California Medi-Cal / CalAIM
Healthy meals may be covered by your Medi-Cal plan.
If you have Medi-Cal in California, you may qualify for medically tailored meals or medically supportive food through CalAIM Community Supports. Medicaid Meals can help you understand the program, check whether you may qualify, and connect you with your Medi-Cal health plan or an authorized meal provider serving your area.
Checking is free. Participation is voluntary.
Usually takes just a few minutes. You do not need to purchase anything.
What is CalAIM?
CalAIM is California’s effort to make Medi-Cal more connected to the everyday health and social needs of members.
Through Community Supports, eligible Medi-Cal members may have access to services that help them stay healthier at home. One of those services is medically tailored meals / medically supportive food.
Medically tailored meals / medically supportive food
Depending on your Medi-Cal health plan and individual needs, services may include prepared meals or other nutrition support designed to help address a health-related nutritional need.
Availability, authorization, length of service, and eligibility are determined by your Medi-Cal managed care plan and the applicable program.
You may qualify if you:
- Are currently enrolled in Medi-Cal
- Are enrolled with a Medi-Cal managed care health plan that offers the applicable Community Support
- Have a health condition or nutrition-related need that meets your plan’s eligibility requirements
- Need help obtaining, preparing, or consistently accessing appropriate food
- Receive any required referral, screening, or authorization from your health plan, care manager, healthcare provider, or authorized program
You do not have to be enrolled in Enhanced Care Management (ECM) simply to ask about Community Supports.
Final eligibility is always determined by your Medi-Cal plan or authorized program.
How it works
Check your eligibility
Answer a few basic questions about where you live, your Medi-Cal coverage, and your health or nutrition needs.
We identify the appropriate program
Medicaid Meals helps determine which Medi-Cal plan, Community Support, or participating provider may serve your area.
Your plan or provider reviews your eligibility
Your Medi-Cal plan or authorized provider completes any required verification, referral, authorization, or clinical review.
If approved, your provider coordinates your nutrition benefit
The authorized provider handles meal selection, dietary requirements, delivery, and ongoing service.
Medicaid Meals does not determine eligibility or deliver the meals.
From your eligibility check to meal service
Where an authorized meal provider such as RFoodX participates with your Medi-Cal plan in your county, the handoff looks like this. We confirm your plan, county, program availability, and referral requirements first; a provider is not available to every Medi-Cal member.
- Medicaid Meals eligibility check
- Your consent
- Referral to an authorized provider
- Medi-Cal plan verification
- Provider intake / dietitian review
- Authorization
- Meal service
Already have a referral?
Have your doctor, care manager, ECM provider, hospital, or Medi-Cal plan already talked with you about medically tailored meals? We can help you get to the right next step.
Helping someone else?
You may also check available programs for a family member, patient, client, or someone you care for. The form asks who is filling it out: yourself, a family member or caregiver, a care manager or social worker, or a health care provider or community organization.
If you are acting for another person, appropriate authorization or consent must be obtained before protected information is shared.
What happens next?
We review your information
Medicaid Meals checks your location, coverage information, and the programs potentially available to you.
We help make the connection
If there appears to be an appropriate Medi-Cal / CalAIM pathway, we help connect you to your health plan or an authorized participating provider.
Your plan or provider makes the decision
They may request additional information, confirm your Medi-Cal coverage, obtain a referral, or complete additional screening.
If approved, your provider handles the meals
Meal selection, dietary assessment, delivery schedule, authorization period, and ongoing service are handled by the authorized provider.
Important information
- Medicaid Meals is a nonprofit outreach and navigation program of Vista Verde Homes, a 501(c)(3).
- Medicaid Meals is not the California Department of Health Care Services, Medi-Cal, CalAIM, a Medi-Cal managed care plan, or RFoodX. Medicaid Meals does not determine eligibility, authorize benefits, prescribe nutrition services, or deliver meals.
- Community Support availability, eligibility criteria, authorization requirements, providers, covered services, and service duration vary by Medi-Cal managed care plan, county, medical need, and applicable program requirements.
- Completion of an eligibility check or referral does not guarantee approval or services.
- Participation is voluntary and the member retains freedom of choice.
Check your Medi-Cal / CalAIM eligibility
A few questions about where you live, your Medi-Cal coverage, and your health or nutrition needs.
Check my eligibility