December 31 is the deadline for undocumented families to apply for full health coverage through the MediCal program. If they do not, they will not be eligible for benefits.

“It is very important that we encourage enrollment,” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Los Angeles County Supervisor, who joined several leaders to prepare communities about the additional changes that are coming.

Medical is California's version of the federal Medicaid program, which offers free or low-cost health care coverage to low-income people who live in California.

Martha Santana-Chin, executive director of LA Care Health Plan (the largest public health program in Los Angeles County), stated that MediCal serves 2.3 million low-income people in the county.

“We want to do everything we can to ensure that people continue to have coverage and access to benefits. For undocumented people who are not yet covered by MediCal, the December 31 deadline is crucial.”

She stated that if they do not apply before that date, they will not have the opportunity to apply later.

“If you currently have MediCal and continue to meet the income requirements, you will be able to keep it.”

She explained that the suspension of new enrollments will prevent new people access full MediCal benefit coverage.

“LA Care Health Plan will host informational sessions at our 14 LA Care and Blue Shield Promise Community Resource Centers throughout the county to keep people informed.”

He encouraged people to visit the website at LaCare.org for the informational session schedule.

“Having health coverage is often the difference between managing an illness and facing a crisis.”

He elaborated, saying that health coverage helps people afford their medical care, access diabetes medications, manage high blood pressure, and detect health problems early.so they don't become emergencies or overwhelming medical bills.

“Without health coverage, manageable conditions can quickly become life-threatening. Therefore, we strongly encourage everyone to apply for coverage.”

She emphasized that it's an opportunity to avoid unexpected medical debt, so she urged all Angelenos to stay informed, be proactive, and respond to renewal notices.

“For those who already have MediCal, we ask that you keep your contact information up to date and reach out to trusted community organizations for help, including LA Care and many others.”

Shiu-Ming Cheer, deputy director of Racial and Immigrant Justice at the California Immigrant Policy Center, said they were deeply disappointed that state leaders adopted a budget that discriminates against the most vulnerable members of immigrant communities by freezing medical enrollments. “The reduction in dental coverage and the proposed monthly premiums will make the program unaffordable for immigrant families already struggling due to the rising cost of living.” She added that the premium costs that will take effect in the future could lead to MediCal enrollment cancellations, especially for large households that must pay premiums for multiple family members. Therefore, she noted that these premium cuts could result in immigrant families losing health coverage and access to vital preventive care. “This freeze on enrollments comes at a time when we are facing other obstacles to people enrolling in the program.” He said many immigrants are concerned about the privacy of their data, given that the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare have shared the personal information of 15 million MediCal beneficiaries with the Department of Homeland Security. “In this context, we are being told that people have consulted with health care providers about whether or not to enroll in MediCal.” However, he stressed that it is critical for undocumented immigrants who are already enrolled in MediCal to maintain their enrollment.

“If you cancel your membership, you will not be able to regain full benefit coverage due to the suspension of new enrollments that takes effect in January. The best way to make an informed decision is to consult an enrollment member who can help answer these questions.”

Dr. Atul Nakhasi, Vice President of Government Affairs and Community Relations at MLK Community Healthcare,He said he will never forget a mother in her 40s who arrived at the hospital with severe fatigue and shortness of breath. “She was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer, and it had already spread to her liver. I was the first doctor to see her at her follow-up appointment after she was discharged from the hospital. I will never forget the fear, anxiety, and uncertainty I saw reflected on her face. Her daughter was in the room, and I was just thinking about the precious time she had left with her and her family.” He explained that thanks to access to healthcare, he was able to refer her to oncology and get her the chemotherapy she needed. “I was able to extend her life—whether by days, weeks, months, or hopefully years—so she could spend that time with her family.” So he said he knows firsthand how vital MediCal is for patients and how devastating it is when they don’t have access to it.

“That’s why I hope we can continue to encourage people to get the coverage they need, which often proves to be a lifeline and which they also deserve.”

Changes for January 1