Thousands in Fresno are up for Medi-Cal renewal. What to know and how to prepare

Laura S. Diaz
·5 min read

Have you had Medi-Cal over the past three years? If so, you might be among thousands of Fresno County residents who need to reapply for the no-cost or low-cost health insurance.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals needed to prove their eligibility for Medi-Cal once a year. But since March 2020, when federal officials declared a public health emergency, beneficiaries have been able to keep their coverage without having to undergo the redetermination or renewal process, regardless of any changes in circumstances.

More than three years later, this continuous coverage is ending and people must reapply — or redetermine their eligibility — for benefits. Now, county officials are worried that residents won’t follow through with the renewal process, or become ineligible, and could lose coverage.

They estimate a third of Fresno County’s residents — about 330,000 people — depend on Medi-Cal to access healthcare coverage. That figure could be even larger. More than 547,000 people across Fresno County are currently enrolled as of January and are eligible for Medi-Cal renewal, according to state data.

“For some families, this (renewal process) has never happened, particularly if they haven’t applied for benefits since 2020,” said Linda Du’Chene, Fresno County Social Services’ deputy director.

Du’Chene shared what Fresnans should know, expect and look out for during this year’s Medi-Cal renewal process.

What to know about the upcoming Medi-Cal renewal

Whether you are up for Medi-Cal renewal or not, Du’Chene has a request for Fresno residents: please update your address.

People might have moved and changed addresses and phone numbers during the pandemic, she said, but haven’t updated their records with the county. If residents are up for Medi-Cal renewal but haven’t updated their addresses, the county is concerned some might not receive their renewal applications, Du’Chene said.

Medi-Cal renewal means someone’s healthcare plan coverage term is expiring and their eligibility factors have not changed. If a person’s income or household details changed and is up for Medi-Cal renewal, then their case could be considered a redetermination.

However, the redetermination or renewal applications will ask for the same information as the initial Medi-Cal application, Du’Chene said: name, address, income and other household information.

When will renewal applications be sent?

Fresno County said it started mailing renewal packages to those who are up for Medi-Cal renewal on April 1.

“Families need to know that all of the packets will not come out at the same time,” Du’Chene said. “The renewal process is spread over 12 months, and so depending on the month that their renewal is due, that’s when they’ll receive the packet.”

Du’Chene encourages families to be on the lookout for a yellow county envelope in the mail.

“They can’t just ignore this communication when they receive it,” she said. “And they need to return it.”

Along with mailing the renewal application back to the county, people can also drop off their package at a Fresno County Department of Social Services office. Du’Chene also recommended Fresnans reach out to their local community center affiliated with DSS for help.

Medi-Cal renewal applications can also be filed online, yet it is “a lot more time-consuming,” Du’Chene said.

She said if a family or person doesn’t have an email address, an online account on CalWIN or Covered California’s portals and reliable internet access, then it is “probably easier for most families to complete it and just mail it back.”

La Abeja, a newsletter written for and by California Latinos

Sign up here to receive our weekly newsletter centered around Latino issues in California.

What if you’re no longer eligible for Medi-Cal?

Since this renewal or redetermination process hasn’t happened annually for several years, there are concerns that changes in peoples’ income, household sizes and access to other health coverage could affect their Medi-Cal eligibility.

“It is possible that there are families that legitimately will lose their coverage,” Du’Chene said. “We have no way of projecting how many that will be.”

However, “people will not be just dropped,” from the Medi-Cal system, she said. “That absolutely will not happen.”

If a person or family becomes ineligible for Medi-Cal after submitting their redetermination application, they can still access and find health insurance coverage through Covered California.

Once notified of their ineligibility, Du’Chene advises people to contact Covered California and/or follow the referral process the county DSS will share.

“That’s what we’re here for,” she said. “And we’ll provide that support.”

What if you don’t receive a renewal application package?

If you know you are up for Medi-Cal renewal and didn’t receive a package in April, don’t panic, Du’Chene said.

Renewal packets will be sent out every month, rolling out as the renewal period continues and people are up for redetermination. Some might be sent approved renewal letters if their cases don’t require people or families to fill in a redetermination application.

Others might not be required to go through the redetermination process, Du’Chene said.

“We don’t want to cause panic or pandemonium or fear among our families,” she said. “It is serious, but at the same time we are here at the Department of Social Services to help them navigate this process.”

How to contact Fresno County Social Services

Information about Fresno County’s Department of Social Services can be found online. Their website also lists specific Medi-Cal details and a community centers where residents can also access the department’s help and services.

The department’s main office is in Clovis, at 3500 Never Forget Lane. If your contact information or household circumstances have changed, you can update your details by contacting the Department of Social Services either: