Mayor Eric Garcetti is encouraging all low-income families to enroll their children into Medi-Cal, the state’s affordable healthcare program, now that it is open to any resident under the age of 19 regardless of immigration status.
A state law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last year expanded the Medi-Cal to allow low-income children without legal immigration status to enroll to receive full benefits.
The law makes free to low-cost coverage of dental, vision, mental health, doctor’s visits, immunization and other care available to undocumented children — on top of what was already available to them through “restricted- scope,” or emergency Medi-Cal coverage.
“Every child in Los Angeles deserves good medical care — and no parent should have to worry about affordability when it comes to getting their children covered,” Garcetti said.
“Expanding access to healthcare is part of building a stronger city, and we have to make sure that no families are left behind,” he said.
Garcetti is featured in a public service announcement video being circulated to encourage sign-ups for the newly qualified children.
An estimated 250,000 children were estimated to be eligible for the expanded Medi-Cal program, according to Rene Mollow, deputy director of health benefits and eligibility at the state Department of Health Care Services.
Since enrollments began in May for the expanded program, more than 20,000 undocumented children have newly enrolled to receive full Medi-Cal coverage, Mollow said.
She also said of the 121,000 children who were already signed up for emergency Medi-Cal coverage, 117,432 have already transitioned over to full-scope coverage.
An estimated 75,000 children in Los Angeles County are eligible for full Medi-Cal coverage, according to Garcetti’s office.
Medi-Cal sign-up information is available at the Los Angeles Public Library, Clinica Romero and the Mexican Consulate. Children can be enrolled at a local clinic. To find a nearby clinic, visit localclinic.net or call (855) 899-7587.
More information about the Medi-Cal expansion — known as Health4All Kids — is available at health4allkids.org .
— City News Service