Eligibility and Enrollment

Who is eligible?

• Pregnant people who live in San Mateo County and who have Medi-Cal health coverage.
• Children age 0-5 (and their parents/caregivers) who are San Mateo County residents and covered by Medi-Cal.
• Other county residents may also receive referral support for dental services; families without insurance are guided to the County’s Health Coverage Unit.

How to enroll/participate

• If you have Medi-Cal, start by discovering your dental provider: visit the county’s directory of providers through the Health Plan of San Mateo, or if you are in the Medi-Cal Dental Fee-for-Service program (Smile California), check for accepting dentists.
• When scheduling your child’s first dental visit, aim for either the arrival of the first tooth or by their first birthday (whichever comes first). At each visit, bring your insurance cards (Medi-Cal BIC and HPSM ID, if applicable) and list of any medications.
• If you need language interpretation, transportation assistance or have questions about your Medi-Cal dental benefits, contact member services of your dental plan and/or the County’s Health Coverage Unit.
• For families without dental insurance or who are unsure of coverage, call the Health Coverage Unit at 650-616-2002 or email info-hcu@smcgov.org to explore eligibility and next steps.

What happens next

Once you are connected with a provider, you and your child will receive dental screening and preventive services, such as cleanings, fluoride treatments and education. Regular visits every six months are encouraged for children and adults alike.