On January 1 of this year, a new law went into effect allowing Californians between the ages of 26 and 49 to qualify for full-scope Medi-Cal, regardless of their immigration status. It’s estimated that as many as 700,000 Californians became eligible to apply for the health benefit when the law took effect. L.A. Care Health Plan, the largest Medi-Cal provider in Los Angeles County, is working to educate the estimated 270,000 newly eligible Angelenos about their ability to gain access to this lifesaving resource.
L.A. Care has launched an educational campaign to educate prospective members on this important new coverage option. One important partner in this effort are providers. Many of L.A. Care’s providers work in safety net facilities that have cared for people regardless of their immigration status or their ability to pay. They are a trusted source for this population who might have concerns about whether accessing Medi-Cal might affect their ability to gain a Green Card. The campaign explains that accessing Medi-Cal will not impact their path toward permanent residency.
The L.A. Care-Blue Shield Promise Community Resource Centers are available for in-person enrollment support to anyone visiting the centers, and they will be a valuable resource for this newly eligible population. Health navigators are on site to support the enrollment process. Prospective members can go to communityresourcecenterla.org to make an appointment for enrollment support.
Read opinion article on this topic by L.A. Care's Chief Health Equity Officer Alex Li, MD, here.