California · Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC

WIC §14025: (a) Any person who buys or sells a Medi-Cal card, Medi-Cal label, or Medi-Cal beneficiary identification number is guilty of a public offense punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

It is a criminal offense to buy, sell, or barter Medi-Cal cards, labels, or beneficiary identification numbers. Penalties include county jail time up to one year, state prison, a fine up to $5,000, or both.

Read the full statutory text

(a) Any person who buys or sells a Medi-Cal card, Medi-Cal label, or Medi-Cal beneficiary identification number is guilty of a public offense punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or in the state prison, or by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment. (b) Any person who barters for the purpose of resale or commercial exchange a Medi-Cal card, Medi-Cal label, or Medi-Cal beneficiary identification number is guilty of a public offense punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or in the state prison, or by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment. (c) This section shall not apply to any peace officer or any other person working under the peace officer’s immediate direction, supervision, or instruction while investigating Medi-Cal fraud or other related crimes in the performance of his or her official duties.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.