Expanding Health Coverage

July 1, 2020

Medi-Cal Now Considers Income, Not Assets, of Enrollees

Medi-Cal, Expanding Health Coverage

What does that policy change mean for safety-net patients?

Medi-Cal Expansion Moves California Closer to Health Equity

February 16, 2024

Medi-Cal, Expanding Health Coverage, Health Equity

Medi-Cal has expanded to include all California residents with low incomes regardless of immigration status. When patients ask whether they should apply for Medi-Cal, a Los Angeles physician explains why he assures them it is safe.

State Works to Increase Access to Medi-Cal As Millions Seek Enrollment Renewal

January 4, 2024

Heather Stringer

Medi-Cal, Health Equity, Expanding Health Coverage

From the front lines of eligibility redetermination, a California Department of Health Care Services official shares insights and recommendations.

Celebrating a New Era in Health Coverage

January 2, 2024

Sandra R. Hernández

Expanding Health Coverage, Health Equity, Medi-Cal

California has removed immigration status as a barrier to enrollment in Medi-Cal — a policy change with profound implications for immigrant families and an inspiration to keep fighting for health equity.

Effective Messaging About the Medi-Cal Expansion to Older Adults: Phase 2

Expanding Health Coverage

This memo summarizes key findings and recommendations from the second phase of a research project examining the most effective ways to communicate to California immigrants over age 50 who were newly eligible for Medi-Cal in 2022.

The Big Health Care Wins in California’s State Budget

Medi-Cal, Expanding Health Coverage, Workforce, Health Care Costs, Data Exchange

California’s 2022–23 state budget represents one of the most significant investments in health care in a generation.

Effective Messaging About the Medi-Cal Expansion to Older Adults

Michele Cordoba

Expanding Health Coverage

As of May 2022, Californians age 50 and older with low incomes can enroll in Medi-Cal regardless of their immigration status. Focus groups among newly eligible Los Angeles residents sought to identify what information and messages were most effective at encouraging enrollment.

Celebrating the Expansion of Medi-Cal

Sandra R. Hernández

Expanding Health Coverage, Health Equity, Medi-Cal

CHCF's president and CEO explains how state leaders have brought us a step closer to justice and equity in health care.

My Comments on the Healthy California for All Commission’s Final Report

Sandra R. Hernández

Expanding Health Coverage, Health Care Costs, Workforce, Medi-Cal, Data Exchange

CHCF's president and CEO, who was appointed to the commission by Governor Gavin Newsom, shares her thoughts on the panel's report.

Biden Administration Proposes to Fix the ‘Family Glitch’

Expanding Health Coverage

Critics have long argued that the Internal Revenue Service's interpretation of this controversial rule unfairly penalizes family members of workers with lower incomes.

Leave No Californian Behind

January 14, 2022

Sandra R. Hernández

Expanding Health Coverage, Medi-Cal

Governor Gavin Newsom made a budget proposal to remove all barriers to Medi-Cal enrollment based on immigration status.

State, Federal Actions Protected Health Coverage for Millions During Pandemic

September 26, 2021

Heather Tirado Gilligan

Expanding Health Coverage, Medi-Cal, Coverage Trends

Stories That Caught Our Attention: The percentage of Americans with health insurance remained stable during 2020 despite a hobbled economy.

ACA Health Insurance Enrollment Sets New Record

Heather Tirado Gilligan

Expanding Health Coverage

Stories That Caught Our Attention: Experts say total Affordable Care plan signups were probably undercounted because of data-gathering limitations.

We’re All in This Together

Sandra R. Hernández

Medi-Cal, Expanding Health Coverage, Health Equity

Since 2016, California has expanded Medi-Cal eligibility to include kids and young adults from low-income households, regardless of immigration status. Now the state has a golden opportunity to finish that job.

American Rescue Plan Improvements to Covered California Affordability: Who Gains?

Miranda Dietz, Srikanth Kadiyala, Tynan Challenor, Annie Rak, Dylan H. Roby, Laurel Lucia, Gerald F. Kominski

Expanding Health Coverage, Coverage Trends

Over 1.6 million Californians will benefit from the rescue plan, including 151,000 individual market enrollees who will qualify for subsidies for the first time and 135,000 uninsured people who will become insured.