Medi-Cal: Keep Yourself and Your Family Covered

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Do you or a family member have health coverage through Medi-Cal?

Now that the COVID-19 public health emergency is over, you may need to take action to keep your benefits.

Medi-Cal covers vital healthcare services for individuals and their families, including doctor visits, prescriptions, vaccinations, hospital visits, mental healthcare and more. During the pandemic, the federal government allowed people to keep continuous Medi-Cal coverage without proving eligibility. 

However, for the first time in three years, states are required to check if patients still qualify for free or low-cost Medi-Cal coverage. Approximately 13 million people in California, or one-third of the state’s population, are Medi-Cal patients and could be impacted by recent changes.

For example, some individuals may not qualify if their income has increased, they have an employee-sponsored health plan or they fail to complete the required forms. Here’s what you need to know to avoid a gap in coverage: 

Update your contact information with the county

If you have Medi-Cal, your local county office will try to renew your health coverage using the contact information on file. You may be required to take extra steps to requalify. Visit www.dhcs.ca.gov to make sure Medi-Cal has your current contact information. 

Check your mailbox for a letter about Medi-Cal

The county will mail you a letter or renewal packet about your Medi-Cal eligibility. If you receive a renewal form, be sure to complete and return it right away. You may submit the requested information by mail, phone, online or in person. 

Create or check your online account

You can create an online account to receive information on your Medi-Cal eligibility and submit information to renew your health coverage. Visit www.dhcs.ca.gov to create an online account and sign up for alerts. 

Our SFCHC team is here to help, and urges you to stay covered and keep healthy.

Author

Stacy Geere PUBLIC RELATIONS & MARKETING CONSULTANT - Stacy T. Geere is founder and principal of The Geere Group, a full-service public relations and marketing consulting firm. She has over three decades of diverse experience working with clients in the private, public and nonprofit sectors. Stacy has supported high-profile projects in relation to healthcare, environmental sustainability, water and energy conservation, transportation, land use development and other complex issues. Her work has earned both local and national recognition. Stacy has a passion for volunteering her time and leadership to philanthropic causes and is a published book author. www.thegeeregroup.com