A coalition of health and community leaders launched Keep LA Covered on Sept. 17, a countywide campaign to help Los Angeles County residents keep their Medi-Cal coverage as sweeping federal changes take effect.
More than a million county residents face at least one of several Medi-Cal changes phasing in through 2028, including new work requirements and twice-yearly eligibility checks beginning Jan. 1, 2027 for many adults ages 19–64. Overall, nearly 4 million county residents – 41 percent of the population – rely on Medi-Cal for their care.
The changes largely exempt parents of young children, older adults and people with disabilities, but for those affected, the stakes are high: coalition leaders said people are most likely to lose coverage not because they no longer qualify, but because a renewal notice went to an old address, arrived in an unfamiliar form or went unanswered.
Keep LA Covered is built to close that gap. At the center of the campaign is a network of trained “Coverage Champions” – pastors, promotoras, health workers, educators, business owners and others – who will share accurate, multilingual information in the places residents already go: clinics, congregations, schools and community organizations.
“When changes like these come, it helps to hear from someone you know – someone who will listen to your concerns and help you find reliable information,” said Lottie Cleveland, a coverage champion. “As Coverage Champions, we can start those conversations, remind our neighbors to watch for renewal notices, and connect them with people who can help. We want every family to know they have support in their own community to help them stay covered.”
To prepare for the coming changes, all Medi-Cal enrollees are urged to keep their addresses and contact information current, keep an eye on their mail and respond to Medi-Cal notices in a yellow or white envelope when they arrive.
Coalition partners include LA Care Health Plan, the Community Clinic Association of LA County (CCALAC), the Hospital Association of Southern California, the LA County Department of Social Services, the LA County Department of Health Services and the LA County Medical Association.
“When coverage is disrupted, the consequences are immediate – medications go unfilled, chronic conditions go unmanaged and preventive care gets deferred,” said Louise McCarthy, president and CEO of CCALAC. “Community health centers are on the front lines of this work. We are already in the communities, and we are committed to making sure no one loses coverage because they did not know what was coming.”
Individuals and organizations can sign up to become coverage champions, and learn more information about the campaign, by visiting www.keeplacovered.org.