Medi-Cal

Only a small portion of Medi-Cal’s primary care providers share quality health data. We need to close the digital divide that has left behind the 13.6 million Californians supported by Medi-Cal health insurance, CalFresh food assistance and CalWORKs cash assistance—more than a third of our state’s population.

The state's new Medi-Cal contracts are part of an overhaul to improve patient care. But some say the new providers aren't fully prepared to handle more Medi-Cal patients.

In California, 32,000 children under 18 have experienced the death of a parent or primary caregiver from COVID-19. The state has set aside $100 million for trust funds for children who are in low-income families to access when they turn 18 for school, housing or other expenses.

People with costly medical needs who make more than the income limit to qualify for free Medi-Cal may still access the program by paying a share of cost, but it’s often unaffordable. Advocates are requesting funding in this year’s budget to help those people qualify.

Tens of thousands of Californians with disabilities require special accommodations for dental care, but only 14 centers in the state can treat them.

Gaps in COVID vaccination rates among the state’s Medi-Cal population persist. Five Medi-Cal plans still have vaccination rates under 50%.

A single state contract with Kaiser Permanente to provide Medi-Cal services in counties where it operates will further the state’s goals of making quality health care more accessible and affordable.

The deal sidesteps issues of lack of transparency that threatens other health plans and the chronic underfunding of Medi-Cal.

Expiration of two COVID-19 emergency programs means Californians could lose their Medi-Cal insurance or find Covered California unaffordable.

Many working undocumented immigrants won’t qualify for state health insurance even if they don’t earn a living wage. That leaves them with few viable options for coverage.