State Policy · CA
California Immigrants Drop Medi-Cal Coverage Despite Eligibility Under New Enrollment Rules
California's Medi-Cal program is experiencing enrollment declines among immigrant populations following implementation of new eligibility rules, despite many immigrants remaining eligible for full coverage. Program data show eligible immigrants are not reenrolling due to information gaps and lack of trusted communication channels about continuing coverage. The enrollment drop affects access to care for immigrant Medi-Cal beneficiaries. State agencies and managed care plans face challenges communicating eligibility rules and maintaining enrollment continuity during the transition.
Why it mattersEnrollment declines among eligible populations reduce Medi-Cal managed care plan membership and complicate network capacity planning, while state agencies must address outreach and retention strategies to prevent coverage loss for eligible immigrants.