Family PACT

Services Offered:

  • comprehensive family planning services
  •  contraception
  • pregnancy testing
  • sterilization
  • sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing
  • limited cancer screening services

The Family Planning, Access, Care, and Treatment (Family PACT) Program provides family planning and reproductive health services at no cost to California’s low-income residents. The purpose of family planning is to provide women and men a means by which they decide for themselves the number, timing, and spacing of their children. Family PACT serves over 1 million income-eligible men and women of childbearing age through a network of 2,400 public and private providers.

Am I Eligible?

Answer these 4 questions to find out.

1. Do You Live in California?

You must be a resident of California at the time you apply for Family PACT. When you apply, you will need to know which county you live in.

2. Do You have a Medical Need for Family Planning?

Family PACT is only for family planning needs. So if you qualify, you must be able to get pregnant or cause a pregnancy. If you get pregnant, you will not be covered by Family PACT until you give birth, but your provider can check to see if you are eligible for Presumptive Eligibility for Pregnant Women.

For health care needs other than family planning, you may be able to get coverage through the Medi-Cal Program or Covered California. You may also be able to get free breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services through Every Woman Counts. Free prostate cancer treatment services for men with little or no insurance through the IMPACT Program.

3. Do You meet the Income Requirements?

Your income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty income guidelines. This is based on the the basic family unit.
Who should you count?

  • You
  • Your spouse if you are married or have a common law marriage established in a state where common law marriages are legally recognized; it does not recognize common-law marriages occurring in California
  • Any minor children (by blood, marriage, or adoption) who live in your home
  • If you are claimed as a tax dependent by your spouse or parents, your basic family unit include you, your spouse if living together, the tax filer and the tax filer’s other tax dependents

Here are the 2022 Federal Poverty Guidelines to help you find out if you qualify.

If you are 17 or younger, you are considered a minor. If you are 18 or older, you are considered an adult. In determining eligibility for minors, your parents income is excluded. A provider can talk with you more and help you find out your family size.

4. Do You have any Other Health Care Plan that Covers your Family Planning Needs?

To enroll in Family PACT, you must have no other health care that covers your family planning needs.

If you have other health care including Medi-Cal, you can still enroll and qualify for Family PACT benefits if you meet all the eligibility criteria described under “Client Eligibility Enrollment” and include any of the following conditions:

  • The other health coverage does not cover any contraceptive methods. Seeking a specific method of brand of birth control not offered by their coverage is not a criterion of Family PACT eligibility.
  • If you are a student who has no health care coverage for any contraceptive. Seeking a specific method of brand of birth control not offered by their coverage is not a criterion of Family PACT eligibility.
  • If the other health coverage requires an annual deductible that you are unable to meet on the date of service. Co-payments are not the same as an annual deductible. If you are unable to make your co-payment, this does not make you eligible for Family PACT.
  • If you have a Medi-Cal unmet share of cost on the date of service.
  • If you have limited-scope Medi-Cal that does not cover family planning.
  • You are not able to access contraceptive methods because you are worried your parents, partner or spouse could find out your use it for family planning.

How Do I Apply?

Applying for Family PACT is easy. When you get to the clinic, they will talk with you to find out if you are eligible for Family PACT. You will need to fill out a form called the Client Eligibility Certification (CEC) form. Talk to your provider if you have any questions about the form. If you are eligible, you can become a Family PACT client the same day. It’s that simple!

Client Eligibility Certification (CEC) (DHCS 4461) Form – English 
Client Eligibility Certification (CEC) (DHCS 4461) Form – Spanish

Once you become a Family PACT client:

  • You can get services for a whole year unless something changes, like if there is a change in your income.
  • Each time you go for a visit, your provider will ask you if any of your information has changed to make sure you are still covered by Family PACT.
  • In some cases, Family PACT may even cover family planning costs for the 3 months before you become a client. Your provider can help you find out if you qualify for the Retroactive Eligibility Certification (REC) form.

What is a HAP Card?
Once you become a Family PACT client, you will get a Health Access Programs (HAP) card. The HAP card is a teal blue card that shows that you qualify for Family PACT.

Take it with you to each visit. Your HAP card is good for one year and will need to be renewed every year. To make sure there is no gap in your benefits, you can apply to renew your card after 10 months.  Your provider will help you when it is time to renew your HAP card.

Don’t worry if your HAP card is lost or stolen. Your provider can help you get a new one.

Resources

Click any of the links below for more information and resources related to Family PACT.


FamilyPACT.org


DHCS.ca.gov