The time is now! The implementation of the health insurance coverage expansions in the Affordable Care Act is becoming a reality. Our health centers have been “pre-enrolling” patients for the Medi-Cal expansion (through Alameda County’s Health PAC program) since July 2011. We are now doing a final “in-reach” push to identify any additional uninsured patients who we can pre-enroll for the Medi-Cal expansion.

Soon we will also be able to assist people with enrolling in Covered California. We estimate that at least 100 of our health center eligibility/enrollment staff will become Certified Enrollment Counselors (CECs), trained by AHC staff who will be certified by the state as “master trainers.” This will allow CECs at our health centers to use the CalHEERS system to enroll eligible individuals and families into both Medi-Cal and Covered California. We will then be able to assist thousands of members of our community to qualify for the free or low cost health insurance to which they are entitled. We are on the verge of a historic point in health care access; let’s make the most of this new opportunity.