Monterey County officials are sounding the alarm over impending work requirements that could jeopardize health care coverage and food assistance for thousands of county residents.
County officials report that between 12,500 and 19,000 residents could lose Medi-Cal coverage due to new work and community engagement requirements under H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” tax and spending bill President Donald Trump signed into law last July.
The Department of Social Services estimates that if approximately 33% of those who lose Medi-Cal coverage because of the new work requirements become eligible for county indigent care services, between 4,125 and 6,270 residents would shift into the county’s safety net system.
At an estimated cost of $421 per person per month, this would result in an annual cost to the County of Monterey of approximately $20.4 million to $31.2 million, county officials warned in an April 13 statement issued by the Office of the County Administrative Officer, Sonia M. De La Rosa. Those costs are not currently funded and would place significant strain on local resources.
These estimates do not include additional individuals who may become ineligible for full-scope Medi-Cal due to federal and state eligibility status changes but still require care, further increasing pressure on the county, officials say.
According to the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, 2.98 million Californians could lose their Medi-Cal coverage, with 41,000 across Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties.
In addition to health care impacts, the county warns that H.R. 1 will significantly increase administrative burdens on county departments responsible for verifying eligibility and monitoring compliance with new federal requirements.
Starting Jan. 1, 2027, some Medi-Cal recipients will have their eligibility checked twice a year instead of once.
When do the Medi-Cal work requirements come into effect?
Starting Jan. 1, 2027, some adults will need to work or volunteer or go to school to keep their Medi-Cal coverage. These new eligibility requirements will apply to adults ages 19-64 and those who received Medi-Cal because of Affordable Care Act expansions.
The work/volunteer requirements will not apply to adults who meet certain exemptions such as being a parent of young children (0-13 years) or having a disability or serious health or mental health condition. A full list of exemptions and work requirements can be found on the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) website.
Recipients will be informed ahead of time by their county Medi-Cal office if they must comply with the work requirements or if more information is needed to qualify for an exemption, according to the DCHS.
Work requirements deferred for Monterey County CalFresh recipients — for now
CalFresh recipients between the ages of 18 and 64 without dependents who are deemed able-bodied will be subject to work requirements starting Nov. 1.
Monterey County received a waiver that deferred the implementation of the work requirements through Oct. 31.
In the meantime, Monterey County officials are spreading awareness of the impending requirements, which will require impacted individuals to work 20 hours per week (or 80 hours per month), secure an exemption or engage in qualifying activities like job training, community service or schooling.
During Monterey County’s weekly news briefing, Aaron Calihan, Eligibility Supervisor for the Department of Social Services said the department is working with the CalWORKs employment services branch to line up programs that will help impacted recipients meet the new eligibility requirements.
“They offer programs from education to vocational training, and we’ll put them in contact with the branch,” said Calihan. The county also has relationships with various sites where individuals can satisfy their requirements though community service.
Calihan said eligibility workers will assess CalFresh recipients to see if they qualify for eligible exemptions, such as being medically unfit for employment, as part of the application process even while the county is under an active waiver.
If it is determined that the recipient does not qualify for an exemption, they will be notified before the county waiver ends at the end of October and how they can satisfy the work requirements moving forward.
Those who are subject to the work requirements and fail to comply, are limited to three months of CalFresh benefits over a three-year period, which started Jan. 1 and ends Dec. 31, 2028, and is applicable statewide.
This means if a recipient gets CalFresh benefits for a month in Monterey County and moves to another county within that three-year period, they are still limited to the same three months eligibility if they do not comply with the work requirements.
USA Today reporter Paris Barraza contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: Thousands in Monterey County face losing health care, food aid
Reporting by Roseann Cattani, Salinas Californian / Salinas Californian
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