Health plan, county social services outline steps to keep members covered after state medical rule changes

State and local officials on March 11 explained a string of state medical program changes and described outreach to help affected residents retain coverage.

Celeste Armo of the Department of Social Services’ community benefits division summarized the schedule of changes, saying, “as of January 2026 for medical were the reinstatement of assets and the medical expansion freeze,” and that adults with unsatisfactory immigration status will be enrolled in restricted‑scope coverage with dental limited to emergency care beginning July 2026. She said the state plans six‑month renewals for many adults beginning January 2027, will shorten retroactive coverage windows for new applicants, and will add work or community‑engagement requirements for some adults in 2027. Armo also said premiums for certain groups are scheduled to begin in mid‑2027 and that co‑pays ranging “anywhere from $1 to $35” are planned for October 2028.

Linda Gorman, senior leader at the Central California Alliance for Health, said the plan to keep members enrolled centers on clear messaging, navigation support, and community partnerships. “We want to make sure that our members understand what they need to do to maintain their coverage,” she said, describing a one‑two‑three approach: update county contact information, know renewal dates and watch for mail, and return required paperwork promptly.

Gorman described an extensive outreach campaign that includes paid broadcast and connected TV, digital and mobile ads, billboards (she cited an example in Moss Landing), social media, radio placements in parts of the service area, flyers and in‑person popups at laundromats and community locations, text reminders about renewals about 45 days before a renewal, and printed provider and member newsletters. She said the Alliance is running the campaign in three “flights” with pauses to refresh messaging: late January–April 19; a pause April 20–May 31 with digital assets maintained; then June–late August; and a final October–December push.

Gorman said the Alliance serves about 430,000 members across five counties — Monterey County, Mariposa, San Benito, Santa Cruz and Merced — and that the outreach effort aims to reduce lapses caused when renewals are no longer automatic. To reach non‑digital populations, she said the Alliance operates a telephone pilot to walk members through renewals and is offering grants and a March 18 webinar for community‑based organizations to help people complete paperwork in person.

Armo described county efforts including printed flyers, outreach teams visiting community sites, and partnerships with community‑based organizations to assist customers who need help with renewals and forms. Reita Margane, a community engagement director with the Alliance, emphasized face‑to‑face outreach at senior centers, health fairs and other frequent‑visit locations and reiterated the three member steps: update contact info with the county, watch for renewal mail, and submit paperwork promptly.

Officials urged members not to panic if a renewal is missed and said systems exist to re‑establish coverage when paperwork is returned, but repeated the advice to act quickly. The agencies pointed to landing‑page resources, upcoming webinars for partners, and local in‑person help as avenues for support.

What’s next: agencies said they will continue outreach throughout 2026–2028 as new rules phase in, update materials as state guidance evolves, and hold partner webinars and community events to assist enrollments.