Keep L.A. Covered launches ahead of 2027 Medi-Cal eligibility changes
Countywide campaign gives physician practices a trusted, patient-facing resource to help prevent avoidable coverage losses.
Keep L.A. Covered, a countywide public-information campaign, has launched to help Los Angeles County residents prepare for federal Medi-Cal eligibility changes taking effect in 2027.
The campaign gives physicians, healthcare workers and community organizations a verified resource they can share with patients—an important safeguard as new requirements create additional opportunities for eligible residents to lose coverage because of missed notices, incomplete paperwork or confusion about the rules.
LACMA is a coalition partner, as L.A. Care Health Plan and Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan, both LACMA member groups, are central to the network helping residents understand the changes and connect with enrollment support.
What is changing
Beginning January 1, 2027, certain adults ages 19–64 enrolled through Medi-Cal’s adult expansion group may be required to work, attend school, volunteer or participate in another qualifying activity to maintain coverage. Defined exemptions and short-term hardship provisions will apply.
A separate change, scheduled to begin March 1, 2027, will require some adults in this eligibility group to renew their coverage every six months instead of annually. The rules do not apply to every Medi-Cal member, and affected individuals may be assessed at different times based on their renewal dates.
Keep L.A. Covered translates these complex policy changes into practical steps residents can take now:
Keep mailing addresses, phone numbers and email addresses current.
Watch for notices from Medi-Cal and Los Angeles County.
Respond to renewal requests by the stated deadline.
Use BenefitsCal to review case information and complete available actions.
Seek help from a trained enrollment assister when questions become complex.
Healthcare professionals and community partners can also train as Coverage Champions, equipping trusted messengers to share consistent information and direct residents to qualified assistance.
What Los Angeles physicians can do
Physician practices do not need to become eligibility offices. Their most valuable role is to make reliable information visible, reinforce a few essential actions and connect patients with people trained to address individual cases.
Practices should consider:
Share the official campaign resource. Add KeepLACovered.org to patient portals, appointment reminders, after-visit summaries and waiting-room materials.
Encourage patients to update their contact information. A current address and phone number can determine whether a patient receives and responds to an important county notice.
Prompt patients to act on renewal notices. A brief reminder from a trusted physician or care team may prevent a missed deadline from becoming an interruption in coverage.
Refer complex questions to trained enrollment assisters. Staff should avoid interpreting eligibility rules or determining whether an individual qualifies for an exemption. Patient-specific guidance should come from authorized county resources or trained enrollment professionals.
Prepare patient-facing teams. Front-desk staff, care coordinators, community health workers and financial counselors should know where to direct patients before questions increase in 2027.
Coverage interruptions are not merely administrative. They can delay medications, disrupt treatment plans and weaken continuity between patients and the physicians who know their care best. By directing patients to a trusted source now, Los Angeles practices can help reduce preventable coverage losses while keeping clinical teams focused on care.
Learn more at the Keep L.A. Covered campaign site and read the coalition launch coverage.
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