Community Based Organization Line
Beginning March 25, 2013, the County of San Diego’s ACCESS Customer Service Center will offer a specialized toll-free line for use by Community Based Organizations (CBOs) within the San Diego county region. The CBO line has live agents to help when you need it! For more information, please click here.
Healthy Families Program Transition
The Healthy Families Program will transition to the Medi-Cal Program in phases over a year beginning January 1, 2013. Answers to frequently asked questions for beneficiaries can be found at the Department of Health Care Services' website.
Notice to Exempt the Reduction of Provider Payments for Pediatric Day Health Care Services
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) enacted 10% provider payment reductions effective 06/11/2011. Effective 04/01/2011 Pediatric Day Health Care Services will be exempt from that 10% reduction. For more information on this notice please click here To read the original notice from DHCS and for more information regarding provider payment reductions click here.
ATTENTION: Changes have been made to the Welfare to Work (WTW) transportation payments
Effective March 1, 2012, if you are participating in the Welfare-To-Work (WTW) program and are eligible to receive supportive services for mileage and/or public transportation, these payments will be available through your Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. Please click here for more information or here to read the WTW informational flyer.
Important information about the Earned Income Tax Credit
The Earned Income Tax Credit or the EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low to moderate income working individuals and families. Find out if you are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit by answering questions and providing basic income information using the EITC Assistant. The Assistant also calculates the amount of EITC you may receive. The EITC Assistant is available in English and Spanish here.
Important information for pregnancy only Medi-Cal
If you are applying for pregnancy related Medi-Cal coverage ONLY and are a pregnant woman in San Diego, please call (800) 675-2229 or visit the County's Perinatal Care Network page.
Important Notice for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities on Medi-Cal
Effective June 1, 2011 a change in State regulations requires Seniors (persons age 65 or older) and Persons with Disabilities on Medi-Cal to enroll in a Medi-Cal managed health plan. Persons who have both Medicare and Medi-Cal (dual eligible) can still choose (voluntary) to enroll. Enrollment will be based on birth month and notification letters will be mailed out 90 days prior to birth month to remind persons of this requirement to enroll. For questions please contact the Healthy San Diego Information line at 619-515-6584.
Important Notice Regarding Health Insurance
The new federal health care reform law and Assembly Bill 2244 require health insurers to sell health insurance to children with pre-existing conditions, such as asthma and diabetes. The initial open enrollment period for parents to sign their children up for health insurance began on January 1 and will close on March 1, 2011, so it is critical that parents take full advantage of this open enrollment period by signing their children up for coverage now.
No More Denials for "Pre-Existing Conditions"
Due to the new federal health care law, all children must be offered health coverage if they apply. Insurance companies can no longer deny kids coverage because of a "pre-existing condition" like asthma or diabetes.
Apply By March 1st to Avoid Much Higher Costs
If you wait and apply after the "initial open enrollment period" ends on March 1st, you could face much higher premium costs since insurers may charge more than double the standard rate depending on your child’s health status. After March 1st, the next "open enrollment period" is the month your child was born. For example, if your child's birthday is August 8th, you can apply during the entire month of August, without facing significantly higher premiums. (There are other open enrollment periods based on changes in family circumstances such as a birth, divorce, job loss, or loss of public coverage.)
Keep Your Children Insured to Avoid Higher Costs
You may face a significant premium increase (20 percent) if you let your child's coverage end and then apply again, so keep your children insured.
You Have Protections if Your Child is Denied Coverage
Remember, the new health care law means that no child should be denied insurance for health reasons. If your child is denied coverage for any reason, call the state health insurance hotline at 1-800-927-HELP.
Parents can also obtain information for their children during and after the open enrollment period by going to the California Department of Insurance (CDI) web site at www.insurance.ca.gov or by contacting CDI’s consumer hotline at 1-800-927-HELP. Additionally, parents can go to http://finder.healthcare.gov/, a web site created to assist consumers in navigating their options under the Affordable Care Act.
Important Notice For Individuals and Families
Free tax preparation services are available through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program for low- to moderate-income individuals and families (generally, $49,000 and below). Qualified individuals and families can get up to $5,600 (with children) or $457 (no children) in Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Getting EITC dollars will not affect CalWORKs, CalFresh (formerly known as Food Stamps) or Medi-Cal benefits. Call 2-1-1 to find a free tax preparation site near you and to get more information. You can also log on to http://www.thrivesandiego.org/index_files/aboutvita.htm.
Important Notice Regarding Online Services
Benefits CalWIN is our new website where you can find out if you might be eligible to CalFresh/SNAP and/or Medi-Cal benefits. You can also begin the application process by completing an easy online application and submitting electronic copies of your verifications. Simply select the www.benefitscalwin.org link to begin the process.
The Healthy Families Program, a low cost insurance that provides health, dental and vision coverage to children who do not have insurance today and do not qualify for no-cost Medi-Cal, is now accepting applications online via Health-e-App.
Archived Important Notices
Notices more than 30 days old can be viewed in the Archived Notices document.
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