The state of California will begin reviewing the eligibility of at least 15 million Medi-Cal enrollees, health authorities reported.
Thus, starting this April, California has 14 months to review the eligibility of beneficiaries of the Medi-Cal program, which gives access to health services to children, pregnant women, adults, the elderly, and people with disabilities. who have low income.
And it is that, after a pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, April marks the beginning of the review of which state officials consider that at least between 2 and 3 million people could lose coverage because they no longer qualify or they are not informed that they must renew it.
"On April 1, the department began its Medicaid renewal process for about 15 million individuals throughout the state of California," Yingjia Huang, deputy deputy director of the California Department of State Health Services, told a briefing. press conference organized by Ethnic Media Services in which experts met to discuss changes to the MediCal program.
Huang pointed out that this process takes place every year and is completely normal. However, he recalled that it was suspended due to the pandemic and said that Medi-Cal members need to update their personal information, such as their address and contact channels either at county Medi-Cal offices or online. in benefitscal.com o mybenefitscalwin.org.
"The goal is to make it accessible to all Medi-Cal members," he said.
Similarly, Huang warned that members must update their information either in the yellow envelopes, online or by phone call before the deadline, otherwise they may lose Medi-Cal coverage.
Those who are ineligible for Medi-Cal because they received more income during the pandemic will automatically be able to switch to the Covered California program, which allows individuals and small businesses to purchase private health insurance at federally subsidized prices.
At the time, Mayra Álvarez, executive director of the Children's Partnership, pointed out that "we need to help families maintain coverage for themselves and their children as we emerge from this public health emergency."
Álvarez indicated that at least 5.7 million children depend on Medi-Cal coverage and 70 percent of them are from communities of color, which have been marginalized for years.
"It is a lifeline for many in our communities," he acknowledged.
He also recommended that all those who are enrolled make sure they follow all the steps to maintain their coverage, especially from communities of color, since they are the most supportive of Medi-Cal, but also those who are most likely to lose coverage .
"Structurally racist policies and practices have created an environment in which families of color experience a significantly greater degree of instability in employment, income, and housing," he acknowledged while recalling that this instability increases the risk of disruptions in coverage of medical services.
Finally, María Romero-Mora from the Department of Health Services, pointed out that "anyone, regardless of their immigration status or income can apply for Medi-Cal," and specified that Medi-Cal offices and online platforms are available to help families with any paperwork related to their eligibility.
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