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Find Help for Mental Health, Drugs, or Alcohol if You’re on California's Medicaid Program or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
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Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program) asks you to go to your primary care provider (PCP) to ask for help. If you need help finding a PCP, you can find a link to your insurance plan website, which will let you search to find a doctor.
In California, you can contact your county mental health office by calling any time day or night. You can also walk in during business hours to speak with a crisis worker. If you need help right away or you’re worried about a loved one, you can also use this service.
If you have concerns about getting to an appointment, your state’s Medicaid program may offer help with transportation (PDF | 1 MB).
You can also:
- Ask your doctor, social worker, loved ones, or a trusted friend, if they know any health care professionals or programs.
- Call the phone number on the back of your insurance card. Many will list a number for mental health and substance use (sometimes called behavioral health) or a nurse line. You can ask them for help finding and getting services.
- Use the SAMHSA search for health care professionals and programs or call 1-800-662-4357 any time day or night. The call line has people who can speak with you in English or Spanish.
- Find a health center that provides free or low-cost care.
- If you have a job, ask your employer’s human resources department if they have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). An EAP is a free and confidential service that your company pays for. The service can help employees with mental health, drug or alcohol use, grief, and trauma.
- If you’re a student, look for your school’s health center or peer support group.
- Learn about support groups.
Last Updated: 04/24/2023