Sonoma County social services officials said Monday they plan to contact some residents to ensure that they do not lose Medi-Cal benefits even after the federal COVID-19 public health emergency ends.
Some 133,000 Sonoma County residents are enrolled in Medi-Cal, the state’s version of Medicaid, which provides health insurance to low-income children, adults and families.
According to the county’s Human Services Department, while some local Medi-Cal enrollees will have their coverage automatically renewed, some will need to provide additional information to the county.
While Medi-Cal enrollees normally must have their eligibility reviewed each year, the review requirement was waived during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that those in the program do not lose medical coverage. The federal COVID public health declaration is set to end May 11.
“It’s our largest safety net program and plays an essential role in keeping our community healthy,” county Supervisor Chris Coursey said of Medi-Cal. “It’s important that people keep an eye on their mail so they can quickly respond to any questions from the county Human Services Department and keep their Medi-Cal coverage.”
Medi-Cal enrollees will keep their coverage until they are contacted by the Human Services Department, according to the county.
Information about maintaining Medi-Cal coverage is available in English and in Spanish.