CenCal Health, the Medi-Cal health plan for two counties on the Central Coast, announces the resumption of the annual eligibility check or redetermination of an individual’s Medi-Cal health coverage.

During the COVID-19 crisis, the federal government suspended the annual redetermination process in order to keep health insurance in place for the country’s most vulnerable, especially seniors and children.

However, as of March 31, 2023 that temporary suspension of eligibility renewals will end nationwide.

California’s Medi-Cal members will begin to receive communication about the annual redetermination packages in April, and must respond to maintain their benefits.

CenCal Health is the community health plan that partners with local providers to deliver health care services to one in four residents of Santa Barbara County and one in five residents of San Luis Obispo County.

“We urge our members to update their contact information with their local Department of Social Services to ensure they receive the renewal package in the mail,” said Van Do-Reynoso, CenCal Health chief customer experience and health equity officer.

“This is especially important if the member has moved or their mailing address has changed in the last two years,” Van Do-Reynoso said. “Access to care is a critical step towards health equity. So please, check, update, and respond to keep yourself and your family covered.”

To maintain healthcare coverage, other life changes also need be reported, including changes to income, disability status and family size.

If members are unsure about what to report, they can contact their local California Department of Social Services (DSS) for answers. Account information updates can be done in person, by phone, fax or online.

More details on the redetermination process, including contact information for local DSS offices, can be found in Spanish and English at cencalhealth.org/keep.

The state has also provided the KeepMediCalCoverage.org website to help members update their Medi-Cal information.

In Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, all Medi-Cal eligibility and enrollment decisions are made by each county’s respective DSS. CenCal Health does not determine Medi-Cal eligibility.

The federal government administers Medicaid; Medi-Cal is the name of California’s Medicaid benefits program.

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) funds health care services for nearly 15 million Medi-Cal beneficiaries. About one-third of Californians receive health care services financed or organized by DHCS.
 
“CenCal Health, in cooperation with the DHCS, is committed to making sure enrollees understand the renewal process and how to take action to avoid gaps in coverage,” said Do-Reynoso.

“The unprecedented task of resuming renewal operations after the pandemic requires public education, as well as ongoing work with all our Medi-Cal partners and providers,” she said.

For more on how to apply for Medi-Cal, including phone numbers for local DSS offices, visit cencalhealth.org/how-to-apply.

“It’s a privilege to help improve the health of our communities in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara,” said CenCal Health CEO Marina Owen. “We can better serve our members if they update their account information as soon as possible, and by responding to communication from our Medi-Cal partners, members will be able to keep their health coverage.” 

Find more about CenCal Health at cencalhealth.org.