Wave Staff Report
LYNWOOD — A coalition of health and community leaders have launched Keep L.A. Covered, a countywide campaign to help Los Angeles County residents keep their Medi-Cal coverage as sweeping federal changes take effect.
More than a million county residents face at least one of several Medi-Cal changes phasing in through 2028, including new work requirements and twice-yearly eligibility checks beginning Jan. 1 for many adults ages 19–64. Overall, nearly 4 million county residents — 41% of the population — rely on Medi-Cal for their care.
“For families who depend on Medi-Cal, one missed notice, one missed deadline, or one moment of confusion can mean losing the coverage they depend on — not because they are no longer eligible, but because no one reached them in time,” said Martha Santana-Chin, chief executive officer of the L.A. Care Health Plan. “That is why we built this coalition. Our mission is simple: to make sure that every person who needs coverage keeps it, by reaching them through the voices they already trust.”
Coalition partners include L.A. Care Health Plan, the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County, the Hospital Association of Southern California, the Los Angeles County Department of Social Services, the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, and the Los Angeles County Medical Association.
“When coverage is disrupted, the consequences are immediate — medications go unfilled, chronic conditions go unmanaged, and preventive care gets deferred,” said Louise McCarthy, president and CEO of the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County. “Community health centers are on the front lines of this work. We are already in the communities, and we are committed to making sure no one loses coverage because they did not know what was coming.”
The coming changes largely exempt parents of young children, older adults and people with disabilities, but for those affected, the stakes are high: coalition leaders say people are most likely to lose coverage not because they no longer qualify, but because a renewal notice went to an old address, arrived in an unfamiliar form, or went unanswered.
“Coverage is not just a card in your wallet — it is continuity, it is peace of mind, it is the difference between a family that stays healthy and a family that falls ill because they did not have access to care,” said Dr. Ilan Shapiro, chief health correspondent and medical affairs officer for AltaMed Health Services |and board chair of the L.A. Care Health Plan.
“We have to make sure that no family loses their Medi-Cal coverage simply because they did not know what was coming or what they needed to do.”
Elected officials also attended the Sept. 17 event launching the campaign.
“Federal changes are coming to Medi-Cal and they mean more hoops to jump through just for people to keep their coverage,” county Supervisor Janice Hahn said. “We want to lift people through those hoops. We don’t want anyone to have to navigate these changes alone or lose their health care just because they missed a deadline or didn’t understand some paperwork.”
“Keep L.A. Covered is a critical response to federal health care cuts and eligibility changes that are impacting our most vulnerable communities,” state Sen. Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach said. “I applaud this initiative for meeting L.A. County residents where they are to provide clear information, deliver direct support, and help people keep their essential health coverage.”
Assemblyman Jose Luis Solache, D-Paramount, added: “Protecting Medi-Cal means both standing up for it in Sacramento and making sure families have the support they need to stay covered at home. As a state leader, I am committed to defend access to care and work with local partners to help residents navigate the changes ahead.”
At the center of the campaign is a network of trained “Coverage Champions” — pastors, promotoras, health workers, educators, business owners and others — who will share accurate, multilingual information in the places residents already go: clinics, congregations, schools and community organizations.
“Trust is built when we show up in our neighborhoods, our congregations and our community centers — when we refuse to let our communities face challenges alone,” said Eddie Anderson, senior pastor at McCarty Memorial Christian Church and a member of Partnership for Growth LA. “That is the power of what we are building here: a network of trusted voices across every corner of Los Angeles, making sure the people most affected by these changes know what they need to do to stay covered.”
To prepare for the coming changes, all Medi-Cal enrollees are urged to keep their addresses and contact information current, keep an eye on their mail, and respond to Medi-Cal notices in a yellow or white envelope when they arrive.
“When patients lose their Medi-Cal coverage — even temporarily — they defer their health care, often until conditions worsen,” said Dr. Elaine Batchlor, chief executive officer, at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Healthcare. “The human cost ripples through entire families. Protecting coverage is not just about individual patients — it is about protecting families, communities, and the healthcare system that serves all of us.”
Individuals and organizations that want to get involved can help their neighbors stay covered by becoming a coverage
champion. Sign up to become a coverage champion today, and find more information about the campaign at www.leeplacovered.org.
