Helping Californians get the health care they need

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Program Update: All eligible Californians 50 years of age or older can now get free full-scope Medi-Cal regardless of immigration status. See our new Health4All Older Adult flyer for details.  Medi-Cal is not a public charge benefit. (See here for more info.)

The Health Consumer Alliance (HCA) offers free assistance over-the-phone or in-person to help people who are struggling to get or maintain health coverage and resolve problems with their health plans.

Medical Debt - Do you have a medical bill that you cannot afford? We may be able to help you reduce your bills from hospitals, dentists, ambulance transportation, doctor groups, and other types of health care services. Call us for free help.

Important - Update your contact information with your local County office!

Are you enrolled in Medi-Cal? Has your contact information changed in the past two years? Give your county office your updated contact information so you can keep your Medi-Cal. Find your local county office by visiting dhcs.ca.gov/COL or calling [the Medi-Cal Member Helpline at (800) 541-5555 / our consumer hotline at 888 804 3536]

About the HCA

About the HCA

 

Local Help Centers

Local Help Centers

 

Publications

Publications

 

NEWS

Keep Your Coverage After the COVID Emergency

The Health Consumer Alliance can help you access health care after the COVID-19 emergency ends in 2023. Learn your rights to keep your coverage!

County of Santa Clara Charity Care Settlement

Starting August 14, 2023, about 43,000 former patients of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center have a limited time to apply for refunds of hospital bills they overpaid. The application deadline is 65 days from the date of the County’s mailing of a letter to the patient notifying them of their past bills.

MPX/Mpox information

Looking for monkeypox testing, vaccination, and treatment? We are sharing resources on this page.

Medi-Cal health plans face pressure to reform

The California Department of Health Care Services has started a reprocurement process for all Medi-Cal commercial health plans. This means health plans will need to submit proposals for how they can meet the needs of Medi-Cal members.

Medi-Cal to include people age 50 and over without immigration requirements

Starting no sooner than May 2022, people age 50 and over can qualify for full-scope Medi-Cal regardless of immigration status! This means people who currently get restricted or emergency Medi-Cal can get regular Medi-Cal next year

Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County [NLSLA] was a godsend. I was so grateful to have the input and advice…. I am so thankful for the work of NLSLA… Thank you for helping me resolve a bizarre issue – one which I would have no idea of how to rectify on my own.

Consumer who was assisted in challenging a potential tax penalty caused by a glitch in the Covered California system

Advocacy Notes

Featuring a recent example of HCA Advocates’ compelling work throughout the state.

A consumer sought the help of HCA partner Community Legal Aid SoCal (CLA SoCal) upon receiving an uncovered $61,000 bill for helicopter ambulance transport for her 10-week old infant experiencing seizures. The infant needed emergency transportation from a general trauma center to an in-network children’s hospital across town. The health plan claimed alternative transportation was available, however ground transportation was not available due to social unrest in the community, including blocking of streets and rioting. The health plan denied the claim resulting in a bill to the consumer from the transportation company $61,000. CLA SoCal advocates helped the consumer file a successful appeal to the California Department of Managed Health Care (“DHMC”), in which they filed a brief laying out the applicable clinical criteria and medical necessity standard, and provided evidence of the unavailability of ground transportation. The DMHC agreed and ordered the health plan to pay for the air transport as it was deemed medically necessary, and to send confirmation of payment of the expense within five days. The consumer was extremely relieved that her infant received timely and appropriate services, and grateful to CLA SoCal’s advocates for their services.

Medical billing cases such as these regularly rank in the top three most common problem faced by consumers of the Health Consumer Alliance. Please see our Know Your Rights page, and search the word “bill” to learn more about your rights related to medical billing and call your local Health Consumer Alliance partner if you need assistance.

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