Acting under provisions of the new federal health care law, California's Department of Health Care Services on Tuesday said it transferred more than 630,000 Californians from the state's Low Income Health Program to Medi-Cal, the state's health program for the very poor.
The new federal law, called the Affordable Care Act and also known as "Obamacare," offered states the ability to expand eligibility for Medicaid, the federal health program for the poor, which is called Medi-Cal in California. The LIHP was established in 2010 through a $10 billion federal grant to help states prepare for the Affordable Care Act.
Beginning Wednesday, Medi-Cal will immediately begin serving the former LIHP members, a group comprised of uninsured, childless adults ages 19 to 64, and parent and caretaker relatives, all with incomes below 138 percent of the federal poverty level.
"California made a wise decision in 2010 to work with our county and federal partners to bring health care reform to the state early by providing coverage to uninsured childless adults under the LIHP," said department director Toby Douglas.
Meanwhile, a department spokesman said 460,000 people also have been found likely eligible for Medi-Cal under the new federal health care law.
Medi-Cal already serves more than 8.5 million Californians -- including low-income families, children, pregnant women, seniors and persons with disabilities -- with medical, dental, mental health and substance use treatment services.
The department estimates that up to 2 million people will enroll in Medi-Cal by the end of 2014.
While the deadline for open enrollment in Covered California, the state's health insurance exchange, is March 31, Medi-Cal enrollment is open throughout the year, with coverage retroactive to the date an application is received.
Contact Tracy Seipel at 408-920-5343. Follow her at Twitter.com/taseipel.
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