Covered CA costs are rising, and Medi-Cal enrollment freezes for some on Jan. 1. Stay protected while you still can. Open enrollment season is here, and this year brings new challenges for our health coverage and our wallets. Costs are rising, rules are changing, and starting January 1, some Californians will lose the ability to […] The post Enroll now — new barriers to care start soon appeared first on Health Access.
Covered CA costs are rising, and Medi-Cal enrollment freezes for some on Jan. 1. Stay protected while you still can.
Open enrollment season is here, and this year brings new challenges for our health coverage and our wallets. Costs are rising, rules are changing, and starting January 1, some Californians will lose the ability to enroll in coverage entirely.
It may be a bit scary, but right now, the most important thing you can do is to get insured — and stay insured — before these new limits hit.
Covered California: Premiums and other costs are rising, but coverage is still an option
Inaction by Republicans in Congress to extend federal support that keeps care affordable will mean higher premiums for many Covered California enrollees next year. This failure will force families into making even more difficult decisions about their budgets in the new year. It’s another gut punch to Californians already struggling with rising costs of food, housing, and everything else under the current federal administration.
But staying covered matters: Even with higher prices, going without insurance puts you and your loved ones at far greater risk. A single emergency can drain a family’s savings and saddle you with medical debt for years. With coverage, you have a safety net and peace of mind.
Key dates:
- Covered California Open Enrollment: Nov. 1–Jan. 31
- Enroll in Nov–Dec → coverage starts Jan. 1
- Enroll in Jan → coverage starts Feb. 1
Help enrolling:
Many people still qualify for financial help. If you’ve considered dropping coverage because of cost, check your options before you make that decision — you may qualify for more than you think.
Medi-Cal: Enrollment freeze for noncitizen Californians starts January 1
State budget deficits this year led Governor Newsom and the state legislature to pass a budget that included cuts to care only for adult Californians without legal status. This means that starting Jan. 1, Medi-Cal will freeze enrollment for just this group of Californians.
Here’s what you need to know:
- If you are an undocumented adult living in California and have yet to enroll in Medi-Cal, you must enroll before Jan. 1 or you will be locked out of coverage indefinitely.
- If you’re already enrolled, we recommend that you stay enrolled. While the misuse of Medi-Cal data by ICE is illegal and threatening, disenrolling won’t protect your data — it will only take away your coverage. If you stay enrolled, you’ll keep your coverage in 2026, though beginning July 1, 2027, you’ll be charged a $30 monthly premium per person.
More info: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/eligibility/Pages/medi-cal-changes.aspx
This harmful freeze is the result of political choices by our state lawmakers. While we push back against these unjust cuts, ensuring care for our communities is our top priority.
If you take one step today, let it be this: Check your eligibility. Start an application. Encourage a friend or family member to do the same.
You still have time. You still have options. In a year full of hard choices, we hope that health care coverage is one choice you do make. And then join us in our fight to restore access and affordability to health care for all Californians!
Onward,
Health Access
The post Enroll now — new barriers to care start soon appeared first on Health Access.
