Los Angeles Mayor Bass Urges Medi-Cal Enrollment Amidst Looming Eligibility Changes
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A critical deadline is approaching for Medi-Cal eligibility in California, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is urging residents to enroll before January 1, 2024, to avoid potential loss of full health benefits. The changes will impact individuals 19 and over without “satisfactory immigration status.”
On Tuesday, December 12, 2023, Mayor Bass joined representatives from the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles and healthcare officials to highlight the shifting eligibility rules and launch outreach efforts aimed at assisting residents with applications before the December 31, 2023, deadline.
“Health care costs are one of the major causes of people falling into homelessness,” Bass stated. “Preventing homelessness is key to our efforts in addressing this humanitarian crisis. I’m urging all eligible Angelenos to enroll in Medi-Cal before eligibility requirements change on January 1, to help Angelenos stay healthy and housed.”
The We Are LA Program and Outreach Efforts
The Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles, closely aligned with the mayor’s office, is spearheading the outreach campaign. The fund’s We Are LA program, launched two years ago, connects residents facing potential eviction with vital resources, including Medi-Cal, food assistance, childcare, and legal aid.
The program’s caseworkers provide personalized, one-on-one support, assisting individuals and families in navigating the often-complex application processes for social services. They work to overcome both technological and language barriers, ensuring equitable access to care. Angelenos can apply for Medi-Cal online or receive assistance by calling the Mayor’s Fund We Are LA hotline at 213-584-1808. Caseworkers are available seven days a week to provide support.
“This critical mission could determine housing stability for thousands of our neighbors across Los Angeles,” said Conway Collis, president and CEO of the Mayor’s Fund for LA. “We are trying to make sure no one is left behind during this critical deadline.”
Understanding the New Eligibility Requirements
According to the California Department of Health Care Services, individuals currently enrolled in full-scope Medi-Cal will maintain coverage as long as they complete their renewal during their designated renewal month, regardless of immigration status. However, those without “satisfactory immigration status” who fail to renew will be limited to emergency and pregnancy care.
The department defines “satisfactory immigration status” to include U.S. citizens and nationals, lawful permanent residents who have met the five-year waiting period or are exempt, refugees, and asylees.
Unsatisfactory immigration status, as defined by the department, encompasses:
- Individuals in the country on a visitor visa, student visa, or temporary work visa, unless under the age of 21.
- Those who have applied for a U visa but have not yet received approval.
- Individuals paroled into the U.S. for less than one year.
Notably, income-eligible children from birth through age 18 and pregnant women remain eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal coverage regardless of their immigration status. This coverage extends throughout the entire pregnancy and for one year following birth, miscarriage, or termination of the pregnancy.
The coming changes underscore the importance of proactive enrollment and renewal for those potentially affected, ensuring continued access to vital healthcare services in Los Angeles County.
