Medi-Cal Members: Here’s What You Need to Know to Keep Covered
Attention—In April, the state of California started the renewal process for Medi-Cal members. If you have Medi-Cal, you will need to renew your health coverage. Over the next year, all Medi-Cal members will get important updates to avoid losing health coverage. Medi-Cal covers doctor visits, In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), hospital stays, dental care, well-child, immunizations, prescription drugs, mental health services, and more. To ensure that you keep yourself and your family covered through Medi-Cal, here’s what you need to do:
Make sure your information is up to date
If you have moved or changed your contact information in the last three years, make sure your local Medi-Cal office has your current mailing address, phone number, email address and your preferred communication method. That way, your local Medi-Cal office can reach you with important updates. The fastest way to check and update your information is by logging into your online account through BenefitsCal.com or MyBenefitsCalWIN.org. If you don’t have an online account, make sure to set one up to make the renewal process easier. You can also provide your information by mail, phone or in person through your local Medi-Cal office.
Look for information in the mail
Everyone’s renewal date is different. You will receive important Medi-Cal renewal information in the mail between April 2023 and May 2024.
- Automatic renewal notification: If you receive a notice saying your local Medi-Cal office is able to renew your Medi-Cal automatically, you don’t need to do anything else.
- Renewal form: You will receive a renewal form in a yellow envelope if your local Medi-Cal office cannot automatically renew your Medi-Cal. You must complete this and submit any additional information requested to keep your coverage.
If you get a renewal package, complete and return it promptly
If you need to complete a renewal form, the fastest and easiest way is by logging into your online account through BenefitsCal.com or MyBenefitsCalWIN.org. You can also give it to your local Medi-Cal office by mail, phone, or in person. You may need to submit proof for some of the information you provide, such as
- Income information
- Proof of identity
- Proof of address
Beware of scams. Medi-Cal will never ask for money, bank account information, or credit card information to renew or enroll in coverage. You must submit the renewal form or provide the information requested by the due date listed on the form, or you and your family may lose your Medi-Cal coverage.
If you are no longer covered by Medi-Cal
If you are no longer eligible for Medi-Cal, there are other options for you to get health insurance. When you qualify, your local Medi-Cal office will automatically send your information to Covered California, which will enroll you in a quality plan that provides the best value at the lowest cost.
Right now, 90 percent of Covered California’s 1.7 million enrollees receive financial help to make coverage more affordable, with many people paying $10 or less per month for health insurance and some getting covered at no cost. Your new Covered California health plan will provide many of the same benefits and services you had with Medi-Cal, including free preventive care and screenings, doctor visits, prescriptions, hospital stays, behavioral health care, and more.
Watch for important communications from Covered California. If you receive a notice asking to confirm your plan, respond right away. You will have the option to change your plan or opt-out. Visit coveredca.com to learn more. The California Department of Health Care Services wants to ensure that you and your family can take action to avoid gaps in your health coverage.
For more information about how to keep yourself and your family covered, sign up for email and text message alerts, or update your contact information, visit KeepMediCalCoverage.org.