{"id":21246,"date":"2023-12-15T10:19:31","date_gmt":"2023-12-15T17:19:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/?p=21246"},"modified":"2023-12-18T10:28:01","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T17:28:01","slug":"expansion-of-medi-cal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/en\/expansion-of-medi-cal\/","title":{"rendered":"Medi-Cal Expansion: The \u201cLifeline\u201d for California\u2019s Most Needy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>*Starting in January 2024, undocumented people will be able to access full Medi-Cal services<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>By Pamela Cruz and Manuel Ortiz. Peninsula 360 Press.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Medi-Cal Expansion: The \u201cLifeline\u201d for California\u2019s Most Needy\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mFKRxiPvso8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Erica Morrison, a mother of two in Bakersfield, California, knows the importance of Medi-Cal, as it has helped her meet the medical needs of her two children, one whose formula cost her $500 a month and one with special needs who requires specialized care that she would be unable to meet by paying for herself.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI wouldn\u2019t have health coverage if it wasn\u2019t for Medi-Cal. I also have a son who has special needs and he has many doctors who also receive Medi-Cal. If it weren\u2019t for them, he wouldn\u2019t be able to get the medications or services we need and ultimately I wouldn\u2019t be able to pay for them on my own with my income, without Medi-Cal he wouldn\u2019t survive,\u201d Morrison said in an interview with Peninsula 360 Press.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_21249\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21249\" style=\"width: 1366px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-21249 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Erica-Morrison.png\" alt=\"Medi-Cal Expansion: The \u201cLifeline\u201d for California\u2019s Most Needy\" width=\"1366\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Erica-Morrison.png 1366w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Erica-Morrison-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Erica-Morrison-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Erica-Morrison-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Erica-Morrison-18x10.png 18w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Erica-Morrison-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Erica-Morrison-696x391.png 696w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Erica-Morrison-1068x600.png 1068w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-21249\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">For Erica Morrison, a mother of two in Bakersfield, California, Medi-Cal has helped cover the medical needs of her children, one of whom has special needs and requires specialized care that she would be unable to cover by paying for herself.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Morrison, who was once incarcerated and is now a specialist mentor for the organization <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/gardenpathways.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Garden Paths<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, in Bakersfield, acknowledged that being able to count on Medi-Cal when leaving prison is very important, especially when you have someone waiting for you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cA lot of times we are released with medications. People are released with medical needs that they were receiving while they were incarcerated and they don\u2019t receive the same treatment when they are released. It\u2019s like they just throw them out into the wild and say: go on your way. So, with Medi-Cal they can continue the coverage and continue the treatment or whatever medical needs they have,\u201d he stressed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For Sandy Close, executive director of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ethnicmediaservices.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ethnic Media Services<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, an organization that held a press conference of Medi-Cal specialists with media from Kern County and others, learning that the flagship health program in the Golden State will be expanded as of January 1, 2024 to undocumented people aged 24 and older is great news.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhat\u2019s going on with Medi-Cal? We\u2019ve made a very rigorous effort to determine eligibility for medical beneficiaries, but that shouldn\u2019t stop us from looking ahead to 2024 and hearing some very exciting news about the expansion of Medi-Cal and the amazing role that California is playing in the country, by developing a new way of delivering health care to communities through the expansion of medical services,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>But what is Medi-Cal?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Measure<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2011<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cal is California&#039;s version of the federal Medicaid program. Medi<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2011<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cal offers no-cost or low-cost health coverage to eligible people who live in California.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And, starting in 2024, immigration status will not be an impediment to accessing the program, which since May 2022 has provided its services to undocumented people over 49 years of age below certain income thresholds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This time, eligibility will depend on: being a California resident, being between 26 and 49 years old, and meeting the eligibility requirements for your income and family group.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medi-Cal services are free, and its entire system covers doctor visits, prescription drugs, immunizations, mental health services, substance use treatment, vision care\/glasses, dental care, hearing aids, transportation, in-home support services, long-term care, emergency services, and specialist visits, among others.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It should be noted that the United States government does not consider obtaining health care, food and housing benefits as part of the public charge regulation, so those who are in the process or consider one day regulating their immigration status are not in danger and can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dhcs.ca.gov\/Get-Medi-Cal\/Pages\/apply-for-medi-cal.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">apply for Medi-Cal<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> without fear.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, if you already have limited Medi-Cal, you do not need to fill out a new application for full-scope Medi-Cal, as you will be automatically enrolled in it on January 1, 2024. However, you may receive a Medi-Cal renewal packet in the mail. Please complete and return it as soon as possible or you may lose your Medi-Cal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reyna Olaguez, who is part of the organization <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhckern.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Building Healthy Communities Kern<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, told Peninsula 360 Press that the importance of having and making known this type of information is crucial, since many do not trust being able to obtain, without being a public burden, full Medi-Cal coverage.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_21250\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21250\" style=\"width: 1366px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-21250 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Reyna-Olaguez-entrevista.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1366\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Reyna-Olaguez-entrevista.png 1366w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Reyna-Olaguez-entrevista-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Reyna-Olaguez-entrevista-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Reyna-Olaguez-entrevista-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Reyna-Olaguez-entrevista-18x10.png 18w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Reyna-Olaguez-entrevista-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Reyna-Olaguez-entrevista-696x391.png 696w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Reyna-Olaguez-entrevista-1068x600.png 1068w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-21250\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Reyna Olaguez, from the organization Building Healthy Communities Kern, pointed out the importance of having and sharing this type of information, since many people do not trust that they will be able to obtain full Medi-Cal coverage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt is very important that the undocumented population throughout the state of California realize that Medi-Cal has been expanded; now it is a new expansion that will grant benefits to undocumented people between the ages of 26 and 49 years old if the person&#039;s income allows it,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And while it is true that many will not be able to access Medi-Cal because their household income is higher, she said, organizations like the one she belongs to are already working to raise the income limit and allow more and more people to access the state program.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThere is a struggle, things don\u2019t just happen because they happen, they happen because people raise their voices, and we started to raise the voices of communities that sometimes don\u2019t have access to health insurance and we realized that one of those populations is our undocumented community,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Kern County, he said, 53 percent of the people who work in the fields are undocumented, \u201cso it is very important that these people who do such hard and important work in our community have access to health insurance.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Olaguez called on people to speak with all family members who are candidates for Medi-Cal, such as parents, grandparents, siblings or children, and help them register, \u201cbecause it is very important to have access to health insurance and focus on prevention and not when it is already too late.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She recalled that organizations such as Building Healthy Communities Kern will be, starting in January 2024, touring various communities in the county, helping to register people who wish to apply for Medi-Cal, in addition to answering questions they may have about accessing the program.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dee Slade and Trista Carter, CEO and vice president of <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/aankc.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">African-American Network of Kern<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, respectively, agreed that Medi-Cal has become one of the most important programs for the African-American community, not only for those born in the United States, but also immigrants, \u201cthe other black culture.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_21254\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21254\" style=\"width: 1366px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-21254 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Trista-Carter-izq-Dee-Slade-der.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1366\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Trista-Carter-izq-Dee-Slade-der.png 1366w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Trista-Carter-izq-Dee-Slade-der-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Trista-Carter-izq-Dee-Slade-der-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Trista-Carter-izq-Dee-Slade-der-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Trista-Carter-izq-Dee-Slade-der-18x10.png 18w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Trista-Carter-izq-Dee-Slade-der-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Trista-Carter-izq-Dee-Slade-der-696x391.png 696w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Trista-Carter-izq-Dee-Slade-der-1068x600.png 1068w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-21254\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Trista Carter (left) and Dee Slade (right), executive vice president and president of the African-American Network of Kern, respectively, agreed that Medi-Cal has become one of the most important programs for the African-American community.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c(Medi-Cal) is very important because a lot of African American communities still need the support and care that Medi-Cal offers. But the information and education for that is not as accessible, and that\u2019s why it\u2019s important that we have those trusted messengers that can give and pass on that information as well. That way they can get the care that they need as well,\u201d said Trista Carter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For Dee Slade, \u201cmany undocumented people, even if they know the information, fear retaliation if they give too much information, because in the past, they may have heard or experienced problems filling out a form and receiving medical assistance, and then perhaps they had a bad experience because of the language.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She stressed that another barrier is language, as those who also belong to the black culture may speak Spanish or another language, not just English. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m very excited to see that this is now being expanded to be more inclusive. But again, trusted messages need to somehow identify with those groups that don\u2019t trust.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The expansion of Medi-Cal, he said, will allow the most vulnerable to \u201cget the help they need.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019m excited that we\u2019re including mental health, which is a priority on the agenda right now, but they will also receive prenatal care. And hopefully we won\u2019t lose so many mothers of African-American or black culture, those immigrants who have immigrated here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He added that it is now important that immigration status does not matter, as former foster youth and former inmates seeking rehabilitation for substance abuse can also be candidates for Medi-Cal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThat is not demographic or ethnic specific, and often it is not age specific either and there are many people on different spectrums of racial ethnicity. It is important that all people receive the care and support necessary to live a viable, healthy and safe life. We have African American people, people of black descent, people of African descent or other Caribbean people, and they also come here for support and to contribute to society in order to reintegrate into it,\u201d Dee Slade explained to Peninsula 360 Press.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Juan \u00c1vila is the operations manager of Garden Pathways, a mentoring organization that works with people who have been involved in the justice system (formerly incarcerated), as well as those at high risk of violence or who have experienced a lot of trauma in their lives, and through mentoring, helps them find employment, get involved in education, and achieve their goals, with the goal of having a better quality of life.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_21251\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21251\" style=\"width: 1366px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-21251 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Juan-Avila.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1366\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Juan-Avila.png 1366w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Juan-Avila-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Juan-Avila-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Juan-Avila-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Juan-Avila-18x10.png 18w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Juan-Avila-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Juan-Avila-696x391.png 696w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Juan-Avila-1068x600.png 1068w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-21251\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Juan \u00c1vila, operations manager of Garden Pathways, a mentoring organization that works with people who have been involved in the justice system.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2016, Garden Pathways did not consider it necessary to work on Medi-Cal, however, after receiving a person who had been released from prison and had a very good opportunity to receive a job that would pay him well, when doing the physical exam, the doctor told him that he would not be able to let him work because he had a serious health condition, and that if he had had Medi-Cal he would have been able to receive the treatment. It was then that the organization decided to help people receive access to health care and have access to Medi-Cal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNow with the expansion (of Medi-Cal), which will give us the opportunity to enter jails and prisons and begin the application process, it will be much faster. When people leave, they will already have Medi-Cal activated and can go to the doctor to receive their treatments, receive counseling, mental health or their medications, if necessary,\u201d he stressed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00c1vila explained that Kern County has a large population of immigrants and people who work in agriculture, \u201cso in order for them to be able to do their jobs and feed the world, they have to be healthy too, so they can also help their own children and families. With the expansion for undocumented people from 26 to 49 years old, it is a good benefit, because it is the next generation that followed the one that already had Medi-Cal, but now it is complete, and they can receive vision, dental, and also mental health services, in addition to physical health.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She also highlighted that, for organizations like Garden Pathways, Medi-Cal will provide funds that can help them continue with their services and not worry that there will be no resources in the future and continue working with communities that, \u201cmany times are forgotten and continue living on the margins, and with these expansions we will now be able to go work with them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the press conference, Bill Wise of the Department of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kcdhs.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kern County Human Services<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, issued an urgent appeal to those who have not renewed Medi-Cal in the last three years, as they could lose their coverage.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_21252\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21252\" style=\"width: 1600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-21252 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Bill-Wise.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1066\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Bill-Wise.jpeg 1600w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Bill-Wise-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Bill-Wise-1024x682.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Bill-Wise-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Bill-Wise-18x12.jpeg 18w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Bill-Wise-150x100.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Bill-Wise-696x464.jpeg 696w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Bill-Wise-1068x712.jpeg 1068w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-21252\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bill Wise of the Kern County Department of Human Services issued an urgent appeal to those who have not renewed Medi-Cal in the past three years, as they could lose their coverage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although Medi-Cal renewals began in March and April of this year, many still haven&#039;t completed the necessary paperwork to keep their coverage, she said. As of September, Kern County had received 33,571 renewals, but more are expected to come, Wise said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medi-Cal has also been and is crucial for older adults. Barbara Carter Garcia, a 63-year-old former librarian who has lived in Bakersfield for a year, told Peninsula 360 Press that, as people age, it becomes increasingly important to have medical coverage, since illnesses are a constant.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_21253\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21253\" style=\"width: 1366px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-21253 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Barbara-Carter-Garcia.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1366\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Barbara-Carter-Garcia.png 1366w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Barbara-Carter-Garcia-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Barbara-Carter-Garcia-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Barbara-Carter-Garcia-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Barbara-Carter-Garcia-18x10.png 18w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Barbara-Carter-Garcia-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Barbara-Carter-Garcia-696x391.png 696w, https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Barbara-Carter-Garcia-1068x600.png 1068w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-21253\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Barbara Carter Garcia, 63, who has lived in Bakersfield for a year, told Peninsula 360 Press that, with age, it is increasingly important to have medical coverage, since illnesses are a constant.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAt my age we tend to have a lot more health problems as we get older. I have a pleural adhesion in my right lung that wasn\u2019t managed properly, and since I\u2019ve been on Medi-Cal it\u2019s actually healing itself with medications that they gave me quickly. Right after I signed up, they set me up with an appointment right away. I also have my glasses now, which I can see really well with now, which helps me read, which I love to read,\u201d Barbara said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This avid reader said she can&#039;t imagine her life without Medi-Cal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI couldn\u2019t, because I would be afraid to do so. Do you think that knowing that my health was such a nightmare when it came to work? Now that I know that I am a healthy woman, I am getting healthier. I feel that I can take care of myself properly and with great care.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To learn more about the expansion of the Medi-Cal health program, as well as the requirements, and how to renew, please click here. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dhcs.ca.gov\/Get-Medi-Cal\/Pages\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Click here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>You may be interested in:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/en\/medi-cal-will-expand-its-coverage\/\">Medi-Cal will expand its coverage so that no one is left without medical service<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>*A partir de enero de 2024, personas indocumentadas podr\u00e1n acceder a servicios de Medi-Cal completos Por Pamela Cruz y Manuel Ortiz. Pen\u00ednsula 360 Press. Erica Morrison, madre de dos ni\u00f1os en Bakersfield, California, conoce bien la importancia de Medi-Cal, pues este le ha ayudado a cubrir las necesidades m\u00e9dicas de sus hijos, uno cuya f\u00f3rmula [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":9745,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,12],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-21246","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cover","8":"category-health"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21246","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21246"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21246\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21270,"href":"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21246\/revisions\/21270"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9745"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21246"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21246"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peninsula360press.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21246"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}