By NCI
Call TrueCare enrollment specialists at 760-736-6734
Or visit https://truecare.org/enroll for more information
TrueCare understands the importance of being insured and the impact on our communities and their health. That’s why TrueCare has a special enrollment team dedicated to helping with the application process. If you qualify, TrueCare specialists walk you through every step of the way.
If you have health insurance, you are more likely to seek preventative care and not wait until your illnesses get worse. “We want people to feel empowered to seek healthcare when they need it and to be able to take control of their health,” TrueCare says.
- Get help applying for or renewing your Medi-Cal or Covered California.
- Get help understanding and enrolling in Medicare.
- Understand what the plans mean, and which is best for you and your family. The specialists at TrueCare can help you understand the options.
- If you don’t qualify for one plan, you may qualify for another.
- You don’t have to be a patient at TrueCare to get free assistance in person or over the phone.
The Next Few Weeks Are Key to Renew or Get Health Insurance
North County Informador asked TrueCare to help answer your questions about health coverage for you and your family
More Californians than ever are eligible for medical insurance—through Covered CA, Medi-Cal or Medicare. If you have insurance, you must act NOW, or you might lose coverage. If you don’t have it yet, don’t miss out on getting the best insurance coverage for you and your family.
Leticia Vera, Director of Patient Retention and Engagement at TrueCare, reminded us, “Having insurance gives us peace of mind.” Yes, it can be confusing and overwhelming to understand health insurance, but there is FREE assistance out there for you. You don’t have to do it alone.
Here are some frequently asked questions Leticia at TrueCare helped us answer for you.
What is Medi-Cal?
A state program that covers healthcare for California residents if you qualify, which can include criteria such as income or family size. Insurance can be free or very low cost for eligible individuals. Medi-Cal doesn’t have an open enrollment period and you can apply at any time.
What is Medicare?
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, or for certain younger people with disabilities. If you or your family member are getting close to turning 65, you need to start choosing a Medicare plan. TrueCare has its own trustworthy specialists who will help you for free. You want to talk to an expert source who can walk you through all the information and explain the benefits.
How does Covered California work?
Covered California is NOT health insurance. Covered California is a marketplace for choosing a health insurance plan—such as Kaiser, Molina, Sharp HealthCare, or others. Covered California uses your information to determine how much help you get in paying for your health coverage, depending on your family size, your income, and some other requirements.
You choose a plan according to your needs, and you pay a monthly premium to the insurance company you selected, not to Covered California. A little-known fact is that many Californians qualify for a discount on their monthly premium you see listed on the Covered California website.
Your premium depends on which plan you choose and on your discount. Higher premiums usually mean lower out-of-pocket costs (co-payments) when you go to the doctor or fill prescriptions, and lower premiums usually mean higher out-of-pocket costs.
What is open enrollment?
Open enrollment is a window of time when you can apply for health insurance or change your insurance plan through Covered California. Medicare also has its own open enrollment period.
What are the deadlines for open enrollment?
Covered California: November 1, 2023–January 31, 2024.
Medicare: October 15–December 7 (coverage starts January 1, 2024).
Medi-Cal: Year-round. If you qualify, you can enroll at any time throughout the year.
Exceptions: You can enroll in Covered California any time if you have a “life-changing” event, such as having a baby, getting married, losing your job, or having someone move out of your home.
If you miss open enrollment, you might not have a chance to enroll for another year.
What if I already have insurance through Covered California?
You can also renew or change your health plan during open enrollment. You might also get notifications about changes in costs or services. Make sure you check your mail and email and phone calls for notifications from your health insurance provider and from Covered California. Ask for help reviewing your plan and deciding if you want to change it. Always look for the best option for you and your family. If you decide not to make a change, you can continue with your same plan.
What if I already have Medicare?
During open enrollment, you can opt to change your plan or prescription coverage to meet your needs better.
What if I already have Medi-Cal?
If you already have Medi-Cal, you need to renew each year or you could lose your coverage. For the last three years, you did not need to renew due to the public health emergency (pandemic), but starting in 2023, you must renew. Check your mail and make sure your address is up to date in the Medi-Cal system. You may also receive a text message. Not everyone renews at the same time. Make sure you know what month you need to renew and get assistance to take the steps needed to keep this health insurance.
How do I know if I qualify for these programs?
Medi-Cal is based on income and family size, and other criteria.
Medicare is for people 65 and older, and certain younger people with disabilities. If you are turning 65, there is a small window of time where you can enroll outside of the open enrollment period.
Only California citizens are eligible for Covered California.
Seek assistance to ensure you get enrolled on time and get your questions answered.
Note: The only age group that does not qualify for full scope Medi-Cal right now are 26–49-year-olds, BUT starting in 2024, they will be eligible, based on their income. If you fall in this category, you do not need to wait until January to apply. Call now to get started!
How do I know which insurance is right for me and my family?
There are many plans to choose from with Covered California. Get assistance to learn about all the options so you can decide which one is best for you. You can get prescreened for free to determine what you qualify for. Learn what services are covered, what your copayments would be, how much you would pay for prescriptions, and how much you have to pay out of pocket if you need to be hospitalized.
“The world of health insurance can be overwhelming,” Leticia noted. “We don’t want someone to choose something that at the end is going to be more costly for them or doesn’t cover the basic needs for that person.”
Will these programs affect my immigration status?
Today, more Californians qualify for Medi-Cal regardless of immigration status.
Based on a federal government ruling, as of December 23, 2022, immigrants can access health care, food and housing support, and many more public benefits without fear of immigration consequences. Immigration status will not be a factor in applying for Medi-Cal and will not affect your immigration status in the future. If you have emergency Medi-Cal now, you can start the process of applying for full scope Medi-Cal.
For Covered California, you must be a US citizen.
How can I keep from being scammed?
You should not pay for any help signing up or renewing. You may get calls or information trying to trick you to pay for help.
Make sure you get help from a resource you can trust. Don’t share information with anyone you don’t trust. And do NOT give out your social security or bank information over the phone.
Make sure you are talking to experts who can guide you. A knowledgeable specialist can explain the rules, amounts, and what is best for you and your family.
