Los Angeles — L.A. Care Health Plan announced its Healthy Kids program will end December 31, 2016 as a result of SB 75 – a California law implemented in May 2016 – which expands full-scope Medi-Cal benefits to all low-income children regardless of immigration status.
Healthy Kids – a program funded by First 5 LA and administered by L.A. Care – was created in 2003 to provide free or low-cost health insurance for children ages 0 to 5 in Los Angeles County who did not qualify for full-scope Medi-Cal or other health coverage programs. First 5 LA also funded a Healthy Kids outreach and enrollment model that provided assistance through a diverse network of community-based agencies led by the Children’s Health Outreach Initiative (CHOI) Partnership.
All heads of households of Healthy Kids members were sent a notice of termination in November.
In collaboration with CHOI, L.A. Care launched a Medi-Cal screening campaign earlier this year in an effort to educate Healthy Kids members about SB 75 and their coverage options. Healthy Kids families are directed to these community-based enrollers who screen them for Medi-Cal and other programs and services.
In addition to the newly-expanded Medi-Cal coverage, other health care options for current Health Kids members include My Health LA, Child Health Disability and Prevention (CHDP) Program, California Children’s Services and Covered California.
For more information about health care options, parents should contact their local enrollment agency. Parents needing assistance in obtaining their child’s medical records may call L.A. Care at 1-888-839-9909.