Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Medi-Cal Providers Prepare For Surge In Enrollees Driven By Coronavirus Unemployment
The state is also preparing for a potential avalanche of Medi-Cal enrollees. Tom Magliery/Flickr CC
()
As unemployment balloons, health insurers are working to manage an expected surge of new applicants to Medi-Cal, the state’s public health insurance program that provides coverage to low-income people.
John Baackes, CEO of L.A. Care Health Plan — the largest publicly operated health plan in the U.S. — estimates that 1.5 million to 3 million people will sign up for Medi-Cal before the end of the month.
“We’re looking at over a 10% to over a 20% increase in enrollment,” he said.
That's on top of nearly 13 million Californians already enrolled in Medi-Cal.
Support for LAist comes from
In response, L.A. Care Health Plan is adding more doctors to its network as quickly as possible. Baackes said they will rely heavily on telehealth to keep administrative costs down. He expects the new enrollees will only be temporarily on Medi-Cal.
“We assume these people will be a bulge in our enrollment, that over time as the recovery from the recession occurs, these people will go back to employment and get their health insurance through employment,” he said. “But they could be with us for a year or two.”
DOCTORS IN FINANCIAL STRAITS
Many primary care physicians and other health care providers may have halted or sharply reduced their practice due to coronavirus restrictions. L.A. Care Health Plan is considering providing advance payments or loans to providers but is waiting to see what the next federal relief package looks like, assuming there is one.
The California Department of Health Care Services, which runs Medi-Cal, is also trying to expedite applications for senior citizens and other populations considered vulnerable to COVID-19.
In March, the state of California put a 90-day hold on reviews of Medi-Cal renewals to make sure that individuals who are already enrolled can continue with their coverage. The move also freed up state workers to process the anticipated new enrollments that will come during this period.
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzOTZweCIgd2lkdGg9IjY0MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=)
L.A. County investigators have launched a probe into allegations about Va Lecia Adams Kellum and people she hired at the L.A. Homeless Services Authority. -
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass suspended a state law allowing duplexes, calling more housing unsafe. But in Altadena, L.A. County leaders say these projects could be key for rebuilding.
-
This measure on the Nov. 4, 2025, California ballot is part of a larger battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year.
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline.
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5425437/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3897+0+0/resize/640x396!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
Best of LAist