California is now allowing individuals enrolled in CalFresh, the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, also known as food stamps), to enroll in Medi-Cal without having to fill out an application. But those who are eligible have to consent to the expedited enrollment, and the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) will only send one letter notifying people of the opportunity – so advocates are busy making sure that families in CalFresh are on the lookout for the letters and know not to discard them.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to enroll a lot of children and parents in a quick and easy way,” says Kristen Golden Testa, the California Health Program director of The Children’s Partnership, a national nonprofit.
