EDD unemployment counting as income for Medi-Cal? Just got disqualified

Thanks for confirming. Ugh, this is awful timing... I just started my medications last month. Do you know if there's any kind of transition period or if my coverage is just immediately canceled? The letter wasn't super clear about when exactly I lose coverage.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I'll double-check the letter when I get home tonight. Did you end up finding affordable coverage through Covered California when this happened to you?

Thank you SO much for this detailed information! I didn't realize there's a transition period - that's a relief. I'll try calling them tomorrow morning and check out that service if I can't get through.

This happened to my sister too. She had to choose between accepting unemployment or keeping her Medi-Cal. It's ridiculous that the safety nets don't work together better.

$67/month sounds manageable - that's really helpful to know. I'll definitely mention my specific medications when I call. Did you have any issues transferring prescriptions to your new plan?

That's a good question, but unfortunately Medi-Cal eligibility is based on gross income before any tax withholdings. Even if OP has taxes withheld from their unemployment, the full $450/week is still counted for Medi-Cal purposes.

did it actually work??? ive been trying to get thru to covered CA for 2 weeks!!!!

That's awesome news! Silver 94 is one of the best plans available through Covered California - practically as good as Medi-Cal for most services. Glad you got it sorted out!

So relieved to see this update! Your story gives me hope - I'm going through the exact same situation right now with my unemployment putting me over the Medi-Cal limit. Silver 94 with only $28/month sounds amazing. Did they automatically evaluate you for that plan or did you have to specifically ask about it?

This is such great advice about checking online first! I didn't even think about looking at CoveredCA.com before calling - that would definitely help me prepare better questions. The point about prescription formularies is really important too. I'm on a couple of medications that were automatically covered under Medi-Cal, so I should definitely verify those will still be covered under whatever Silver plan I end up with. Thanks for mentioning the prior authorization issue - I would have been blindsided if my meds suddenly required extra approvals!

Really appreciate the tip about checking CoveredCA.com first - I wish I had known about that earlier! Going through this transition myself right now and the website browsing approach sounds much less stressful than going in blind to a phone call. The formulary point is crucial too. I learned the hard way that my anxiety medication required a 30-day prior auth process with my new Silver plan, even though it was instant approval under Medi-Cal. Ended up having to pay out of pocket for a week while waiting for the approval to go through. Definitely ask about any specialty meds or mental health prescriptions specifically - those seem to have the most hoops to jump through in the transition.

This is such smart advice! I wish someone had told me about getting refills early when I went through my transition. I ended up scrambling to get my blood pressure medication when there was a delay with my new plan activation. One thing to add - if you're getting multiple prescriptions refilled while your Medi-Cal is still active, ask your pharmacy about getting 90-day supplies if possible. Some medications can be dispensed for longer periods, which gives you even more of a buffer. Just make sure to check with your doctor first since some meds need more frequent monitoring. The effective date question is really important too. I learned that if you select your plan by the 15th of the month, it usually starts the 1st of the next month, but if you wait until later in the month it might not kick in until the month after that. Definitely ask about timing when you call!

This is such comprehensive and reassuring advice! I'm just starting to deal with this transition myself and was feeling completely overwhelmed by the whole process. Your point about acting quickly but not panicking is exactly what I needed to hear - I was spiraling thinking I'd immediately lose all coverage. The tip about getting a 90-day supply of medications while Medi-Cal is still active is brilliant! I have a few ongoing prescriptions and hadn't even thought about maximizing my refills before the transition. That would definitely give me peace of mind during the changeover. I'm really encouraged to hear about the Silver 87 plan option at $45/month with $5 copays - that sounds so much more manageable than what I was expecting to pay. I'll definitely start with the online portal like you suggested before making the phone call. Thanks for sharing your timeline too - 10 days from start to finish gives me a realistic expectation of how long this will take. It's amazing how much less scary this whole situation feels when you hear from people who've actually been through it successfully!

This thread has been such a goldmine of practical advice! I'm currently navigating this same transition after getting my letter about losing Medi-Cal due to unemployment income. Your breakdown of the Enhanced Silver plans is exactly what I needed - I had no idea there were specific tiers designed for people in our income bracket. The 90-day prescription refill strategy is so smart. I'm going to call my doctor's office tomorrow to request extended supplies of my medications while my Medi-Cal is still active. That buffer will definitely reduce my anxiety about the transition period. One quick question - when you mention using the online chat feature, did you find the representatives there just as knowledgeable as the phone agents? I'm tempted to try that route first since I hate being on hold, but I want to make sure I get accurate information about my options. Your timeline of 10 days total is really reassuring. I was imagining this would drag on for weeks or months. Thanks for taking the time to share such detailed guidance - it's making this whole process feel much more manageable!

@Luis Johnson I found the online chat representatives to be just as knowledgeable as the phone agents! Actually, sometimes even better because they can send you direct links to plan documents and have more time to type out detailed explanations. The wait times are usually much shorter too - I typically got connected within 10-15 minutes versus hours on the phone. One thing I really liked about chat is that you get a transcript of the entire conversation emailed to you afterward, which is super helpful for keeping track of what plans they recommended and any important deadlines. Plus you can easily copy/paste your member information instead of having to spell everything out over the phone. The only downside is that chat isn t'available 24/7 like the phone line, but during business hours it s'been my go-to method. Definitely worth trying first - you can always call if you need more complex help, but for basic plan selection and enrollment the chat worked perfectly for me. Good luck with getting those extended prescription refills! That really was a game-changer for reducing stress during my transition.

@Diego Mendoza This is incredibly helpful - thank you! I had no idea you could get a transcript of the chat conversation emailed to you. That s'honestly a huge advantage over phone calls where you re'frantically trying to write down all the important details they re'giving you. The shorter wait times alone make it worth trying chat first. I ve'been dreading spending hours on hold just to get basic information about my plan options. And being able to copy/paste information instead of spelling everything out phonetically is such a time-saver. I m'definitely going to start with the online chat during business hours tomorrow. Having that written record of what plans they recommend and the enrollment deadlines will be so useful for making my decision. Thanks for sharing your experience with both methods - it s'exactly the kind of practical comparison I needed to hear! Already called my doctor s'office about extending my prescription refills, and they said they can do 90-day supplies for most of my medications. Feeling much more confident about this whole transition now thanks to all the great advice in this thread!