Hmmm - the ACA differs from state to state, but one of the features is that if the state buys in, Medicaid is expanded to cover everyone under a certain percentage of the FPL. I'm pretty sure California bought into that, which means step one is to apply for the subsidy, and that forces the applicant to apply for Medicaid before doing anything else. I doubt whether Medicaid would have the nerve to charge anyone $8 a month. That $8 a month doesn't sound right, at all.