Confused about how to handle Medi-Cal situation
I signed up for insurance through the Covered CA website last year. At the time I only had one part-time job and didn’t know what the future would hold, so I only put that income in. I signed up for a Kaiser plan through Covered CA, but my reported income also qualified me for Medi-Cal. I got some letters from Medi-Cal, tried to call them but couldn’t get through, didn’t know how to deal with it so just kept my Kaiser policy and figured since I didn’t sign up or confirm with Medi-Cal it was fine and would just go away.
I got SUPER busy and ended up making quite a lot more than I projected. I didn’t realize I needed to update my income with Covered CA or Medi-Cal right away, and it also has been in flux anyway. Then in September I get a letter that says my Kaiser policy is ending. I hated Kaiser and figured screw them, I’ll just sign up for a new policy with Covered CA when it ends. So I went to the Covered CA website a few weeks ago and updated my income. Then I called them and was told that my case was now taken over by Medi-Cal, that was the reason my Kaiser policy was cancelled; they couldn’t do anything to help me, I’d have to get in contact with Medi-Cal. Have tried calling Medi-Cal multiple times, calling the caseworker on my letter, can’t get through. I was going to stop by the office the other day but the line was around the block.
I’m wondering what I need to say to them when I actually do get through? Do I update my income with them? Do I want them to drop my case so it goes back to Covered CA? I’m so confused at how to deal with this. And right now I’m theoretically covered by Medi-Cal but have no idea at how to navigate that system or even what my policy number or anything is with them.
I imagine when I fill out Covered CA for 2024 that I won’t qualify for Medi-Cal and will be able to choose a BC/BS policy. That will give me coverage for January, and maybe I’ll just wait until then to deal with the long-term wrist pain that I’ve been having.