Enrolled in a Medi-Cal, CHIP, or Expansion plan and want to prepare for renewal? Keep your address updated with your local county office and watch for your renewal packet by mail.
If you lose Medi-Cal coverage, you are eligible for a special enrollment period. You typically have 60 days to find a new health insurance plan from the time you lose Medi-Cal.1
Earn too much to qualify for Medi-Cal? You could qualify for an Individual & Family Health Insurance Plan as low as $0 a month.2
What You Need To Know
During the Public Health Emergency (PHE), nearly all Medi-Cal, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Expansion members kept their coverage, regardless of changes in eligibility or status. Legislation signed on December 29, 2022, allows states to begin removing ineligible members from their Medicaid programs starting April 1, 2023. Medi-Cal will begin processing renewals in April 2023 for members with June 2023 renewal dates. Medi-Cal will begin removing ineligible members at the end of their renewal month.
You May Lose Coverage If You No Longer Qualify For Medi-Cal
When yearly Medi-Cal renewals start again, millions of individuals will need to take action to keep their current Medi-Cal coverage or, if they no longer qualify, find a new health plan that’s right for them. We can help you with your options, should you lose coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medicaid Renewal
What Is The Public Health Emergency Or PHE?
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Public Health Emergency (PHE) was put into place by the federal government on January 27, 2020. Prior federal law addressing the COVID-19 pandemic paused yearly Medi-Cal renewals.
What Is Medi-Cal Renewal?
Medi-Cal renewal is a review completed by your local county office to check if you’re still eligible for your coverage. You have to renew your Medi-Cal coverage to keep it. Missing the deadline, not completing paperwork, or forgetting a step in the renewal process all put you at risk of losing coverage.
If you’ve had a change in income, age, or other qualifying factors since you enrolled in Medi-Cal, it’s possible you will no longer qualify. The only way to know for sure is to complete your renewal on time.
When it’s time for you to renew, you’ll get a notice telling you what to do. Be sure to follow the steps to renew quickly. If you have questions, call your Customer Care Center number on your insurance ID card.
What Can People Do Now To Prepare For Their Medi-Cal Renewal?
Check if your local county office has your current mailing address and contact information. If you’ve moved or your contact information has changed, contact your local county office now. Important updates about your coverage come through the mail, including a notice when it’s time for you to renew. If your contact information isn’t up to date with your local county office, you may miss these notices.
Understand your health coverage options. If you’ve had major changes to your income, or household, it’s a good idea to explore other health plans now in case you lose your Medi-Cal coverage. You may even be eligible for a free or low-cost Individual and Family health plan offered through Covered California.2
Check what coverage you may qualify for, including health insurance and other benefits like food and transportation.
If I Am Working, Can I Get Health Coverage Through My Job?
If you lose Medi-Cal coverage, but are working, you may have access to health coverage through your job. You typically have 60 days from the date you lose Medi-Cal to enroll in coverage through your job. Ask your employer what your options are.
However, if you or your family members are not covered under a health plan offered through your job, Individual and Family health plans may be an option. With the new IRS rule to make health coverage more affordable, you and your family members may now be eligible to receive financial help on an Individual and Family health plan offered through Covered California.
How Can I Find Affordable Health Coverage If I No Longer Qualify For Medi-Cal?
When Medi-Cal renewals start, Covered California and the Department of Health Care Services will partner to transition consumers who no longer qualify for Medi-Cal into an Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant qualified health plan with an approved health plan carrier. When this happens and you’ve been transitioned to an ACA compliant qualified health plan with Anthem, be sure to follow the process to complete your enrollment for coverage with us. Or, if you’ve received information about transitioning to a health plan carrier other than Anthem and have questions, give us a call at tel to help.
How Much Does Marketplace Health Insurance Cost?
Individual and Family health plans offered through Covered California are available to anyone who does not have health insurance, including those no longer eligible for Medi-Cal coverage. These plans are available in Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum metal levels and offer benefits like doctor visits, prescriptions, hospital care, and mental health care. You also may be eligible for financial help (a subsidy) that could lower your premium (monthly payment) - or even reduce it to $0 a month. 2
Open Enrollment for an Individual and Family health plan offered through Covered California runs every year from November 1 through January 31. If you no longer qualify for Medi-Cal coverage, you are eligible for a special enrollment period. You typically have 60 days to apply for an Individual and Family health plan or to enroll in a plan through your job, from the date you lose Medi-Cal. 1
Yes. While you may earn too much remain eligible for Medi-Cal coverage, you may qualify for an Individual and Family health plan offered through Covered California that has a monthly premium payment as low as $0 (after subsidy applied).2
Along with a subsidy that can lower your monthly premium, cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) are extra savings that can reduce your out-of-pocket costs when you get medical care. If your income is within the range that qualifies you for a CSR, you must enroll in a plan in the Silver tier to receive the extra savings.
You can enroll online, or we can guide you through the application process to find an Individual and Family health plan offered through Covered California that fits your specific needs and budget.
You Can Feel Confident That You Have Health Insurance Options
You have other healthcare plan options if you lose Medi-Cal coverage. We can help you make the transition and find a plan that fits your needs and your budget.
Understand Your Coverage Options
Medi-Cal Plans
If you need information about Medicaid, call the number on the back of our ID card.
Individual & Family Marketplace Insurance Plans
If you are under 65, find low-cost health plans for you and your family.
If you are an employer, a producer, or healthcare provider, click below for more information.
Plans Available Through Your Job
If you’re working, ask your employer about your health plan options. If you or your family are not covered under a health plan through work, explore Individual & Family plan options.
Additional Information
Stay informed by checking these useful resources for additional information on Medicaid renewals and more.
1 Guidance may be issued at a later date extending the special enrollment period in some circumstances.
2 Based on federal and/or state exchange requirements and subject to change. Anthem Blue Cross is a Qualified Health Plan issuer that in certain geographic areas offers some health plans with a $0 premium option (after subsidy applied) through Covered California. Health plans with a $0 premium option are not available in all areas and eligibility for these plans is based on federal annual income guidelines. Call us for information because not everyone will qualify. For example, singles earning up to $19,140, and couples earning up to $25,860 may be eligible. Family income eligibility varies based on number of family members.
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