Health Care Access / Health Care Navigation

Health Care Navigation is a service that helps SLO County residents get access to the health care they need. This is a personal service that is different for every individual. It may mean connecting you with insurance, helping find a doctor who accepts your insurance, answering questions about a medical bill, or helping you navigate the health care system in other ways. 

If you do not currently have health insurance: Health Care Access and Navigation staff can help you find insurance so you can get the care you need. Our nurse navigator and eligibility worker gather information to determine if you may be eligible for Medi-Cal, the Medically Indigent Services Program (MISP) or Covered California. They can also help you apply for these programs. 

If you do have health insurance: Our knowledgeable staff also answer questions and help find solutions for people who have insurance but are not sure how or where to access care or how to find affordable health care solutions to their problems. 

If you have not been successful meeting your medical needs and aren’t sure what to do next, contact the Health Care Access and Navigation staff for a free, confidential evaluation of your needs at 805-781-4838 or by email.

Language Support Services

Public Health is committed to providing services in the language you speak. We provide qualified interpreters upon request to ensure effective communication and accessibility. 

Medically Indigent Services Program (MISP)

Medically Indigent Services Program (MISP) assists qualified low-income residents who have an immediate medical need but have no source of health coverage available and no other way to pay for necessary medical care.

You may qualify for MISP if:

• You are 19–64 years old
• You have income over 138% and up to 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL).
• You have limited assets (cash and property)
• You have a current medical need that MISP covers   
• You have no other source of health coverage available
• You are not eligible for Medi-Cal or any other public health coverage
• You are a resident of SLO County and a legal resident of the U.S.
• You have a qualified hardship (see list below) exemption from the tax penalty for not having minimum essential health coverage. A qualified hardship, or exemption, is the reason or cause that prevented you from obtaining health insurance. Click here for more information about the federal law, tax penalty, and the exemption.

Oral Health

The Public Health Department works with numerous community partners on policy development, oral health education, increasing access to dental care, and ensuring every child has a primary or 'home base' dentist. Since preventing cavities in early childhood reduces the risk of dental disease for a lifetime, the program also provides limited preventive services for children enrolled in the WIC program and home-based Head Start programs. The Oral Health Coalition meets regularly at the Public Health Department. Coalition members help set direction and establish a strategic plan every three years.