No Visa or SSN needed for Healthcare!
The new and improved Medi-Cal is set to positively impact immigrants and low-income communities by increasing eligibility for full coverage.
On Thursday, April 11, 2024, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) gave a compelling presentation on the future of healthcare for low-income communities. Medi-Cal, the Public Health Insurance provided by the California State Government, has undergone a massive transformation in the past year. In a welcome reprieve, DHCS representatives spoke of the initiative with unbridled optimism and stories of real change.
Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports (CS) are the two new and improved public programs acting as the primary drivers of Medi-Cal’s transformation. In a bid for full wellness, Medi-Cal has expanded to encompass all aspects of a person’s wellbeing from housing and moving assistance to transportation and financial services.
Currently, Medi-Cal serves nearly 1.5 million individuals or one-third of California’s population. With the expanded Medi-Cal plan, even more communities and individuals are eligible to sign up for this program.
“We’re providing new services so all Californians, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, immigration status, and health needs can live healthier lives,” said Sarah Brooks, the Chief Deputy Director for Health Care Programs at the California DHCS.
A Win for Indian immigrants of all kinds
Medi-Cal is keen to serve the needs of temporary migrants and seasonal workers, no matter their immigration status. The DHCS representatives were careful to emphasize that one doesn’t need a job, a Social Security Number (SSN), or a visa to access quality healthcare in California.
Medi-Cal is open to the thousands of laid-off tech workers in California who have recently lost access to employee-sponsored health care.
“If a person’s income exceeds Medi-Cal income limits, they can still qualify for Medi-Cal with a monthly share of cost if they meet the eligibility requirements for certain programs. However, a layoff is a qualifying event, and they would have the opportunity to apply for Covered California 60 days before or after their employer-sponsored health coverage stops.” said the DHCS p team when asked about the unfortunate situation lay-offs immigrants are now facing.
Eligibility Requirements
When questioned about the possibility of using Medi-Cal for elderly visitors on B1/B2 visas, the DHCS clarified that “To be eligible for Medi-Cal, the applicant must be a resident of California and meet all other eligibility requirements. For individuals on a visa, the county will assess their specific situation, as needed, to determine if they meet residency and other eligibility requirements.”
Every immigrant has feared the U.S. healthcare system at one point or another and it is heartening to note that the government health workers understand our situations. Many of the public health workers involved in the project come from minority or immigrant communities themselves and they truly empathize with the needs of the people.
A personal story
Angelica Rodriguez, the Program Manager with Uma Community Clinic is one such individual. Born to immigrant Mexican parents, she witnessed firsthand the difficulties immigrants undergo to access healthcare.
“My parents didn’t speak English, and were scared to reveal anything about their migratory status, which oftentimes resulted in them not seeking medical care, even when they really needed it,” she recalled, giving voice to a fear that immigrants are all too familiar with.
Due to the dual barriers of information and communication, her mother had once developed a severe kidney infection as she didn’t know where she could receive health care without medical insurance or even how to apply for medical insurance.
Angelica’s experience as an immigrant informs many of the decisions she makes at the Uma Clinic. By including workers from different backgrounds and communities, California’s healthcare system is poised to modernize its policies and help provide physical, dental, mental, and behavioral care to as many individuals as possible.
Language Access
Noting the recent surge in immigration, the DHCS has community volunteers and peer support agents who speak a variety of languages, including Hindi, Arabic, and Punjabi. Many Community Welfare Organizations and Health Focused Non-profits work closely with the DHCS to reach members of different communities and immigrant groups, providing a path for those facing language and cultural barriers to receive the care that they need.
“There is no wrong door,” stressed Rachelle Grant, the senior clinical director at Pacific Clinics, who oversees the statewide ECM and CS programs. “One just has to reach out to your primary physician, social worker, or employees at any community health clinic to get enrolled.”
Emphasizing Proactive Care
One of the more impressive projects mentioned was the Asthma Remediation Project. Asthma patients can avail of air purifiers and humidifiers, mold removal assistance, and even hypoallergenic pillowcases and cleaning supplies through this initiative. The DHCS is working hard to provide proactive care that prevents and alleviates asthma attacks instead of the typical set of tools for symptom management.
California also has the largest population of unhoused people in the nation. Soaring rents and end to the pandemic assistance programs saw a 5.8% year-over-year increase in the state’s unhoused population, according to the Housing and Urban Development Department report. The new Medi-Cal is mindful of the needs of this vulnerable population and provides one-on-one support for them. Through the ECM program, individuals can get support for all their complex needs from wherever they are, at home, in nursing homes, or on the streets.
New migrant support
Besides direct medical needs, eligible Californians can avail of transition housing support, individually tailored meal plans, and more through the 14 approved Community Supports (CS). Moreover, new migrants are welcome to avail of this program, with specialized services available to pregnant women and those over 65 years of age.
In a country where healthcare has long been privatized and tied to employment and citizenship, California is taking much-needed strides to address the needs of the people on the ground. If COVID has taught us anything, it is that health is a public issue and that we, as a society, are only as healthy as our weakest members.
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