Millions of Californians Must Re-Qualify for Medi-Cal
Starting in April 2023 millions of Californians were required to re-qualify for Medi-Cal, thestate’s version of Medicaid, for the first since the COVID Public Health Emergency (PHE) was declared. Many covered by Medi-Cal may lose their eligibility for a variety of reasons, including those who started a new job during the PHE but waived employer-sponsored coverage and kept their Medi-Cal health plan. For Bay Area employers, this means many employees could be looking for information about their healthcare coverage options.
Action Steps for Employers
The state and counties started communicating these changes to Medi-Cal members in April. The process will continue for up to 14 months and could be understandably concerning for people covered by Medi-Cal, many of whom are employed. For those losing access to their Medi-Cal health plan, most will seek coverage through their employer, Covered California , or through individual health plans offered directly through health insurers. Employers can play a critical role in raising awareness of the coming Medi-Cal renewal changes and help them stay covered.
To that end, Anthem Blue Cross has created an Employer Toolkit to help employers communicate this important change to their employees. Employees can be directed to several resources including Anthem.com/ca/StayCovered or Covered California which offers individuals the ability to shop for, compare, and purchase qualified health insurance plans with tax credits or subsidies that are based on income.
COVID-19 taught us hard-learned lessons about the importance of equitable access to affordable health care. California employers have always played a central role in keeping theGolden State’s workforce healthy and vibrant. Let’s keep working together to make sure no one loses health coverage as Medi-Cal renewals resume.
