Babies born to a Medi-Cal mother are covered for the month of birth and the following month. Some newborns will have their own client index numbers (CINs) and are loaded in the system separately. Newborns who do not have separate CINs are still deemed eligible under the mother's Medi-Cal beneficiary identification card (BIC) or CIN during the month of delivery and the following month. No separate capitation is paid for the newborn during these two months.

Newborns in foster care are also eligible for shared mother/child coverage during the month of birth and the following month. Foster parents of newborns must present a photocopy of the natural mother's BIC or CIN to obtain covered services for the newborn during the month of delivery and the following month.