Local agencies that get Southern California residents enrolled for Medi-Cal coverage are reaching out to people ages 26 through 49 who are soon going to be eligible regardless of their immigration status.
Earlier this year, in a budget deal struck between Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state Legislature, coverage was expanded to all adults who are undocumented, which is expected to add more than 700,000 residents to those receiving state-subsidized coverage.
People who are undocumented make up 40% of the state’s approximately 1 million residents who are uninsured, according to the California Legislative Analyst’s Office. That could change beginning Jan. 1, with the new law in California that will allow adults who are undocumented to qualify for full-scope Medi-Cal and gain access to affordable primary care services such as annual check-ups and lab tests.
Previously California had opened eligibility to youth and elderly people who are undocumented. The expansion is expected to cost about $2.6 billion annually.
Enrollment is now open at BenefitsCal.com, and an estimated 40,000 to 70,000 adults in Orange County are expected to qualify for this coverage expansion. The state Department of Health Care Services anticipates approximately 274,000 new members in the coverage expansion population coming from Los Angeles County. Riverside County and San Bernardino County officials are also helping enroll newly eligible residents.
Michael Hunn, CEO of CalOptima Health, said one of the challenges to getting people to enroll will be trust. Some people who do not have immigration documents may feel weary about providing their information, but Hunn said working with community organizations and clinics will make all the difference in getting people to apply for coverage.
“We always look to the trusted community partners or navigators that can help the population that we want to serve, and that is mainly our community clinics and community-based organizations that are in the…
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