DHCS ACWDL 14-38: Annual Redetermination Process for Medi-Cal and Covered California Mixed Households (10/23/14)

DHCS issued this letter focusing on annual redeterminations for MAGI Medi-Cal and Covered California mixed coverage household.  Since different annual redetermination periods and processes are involved, there will be two different annual redetermination dates for mixed coverage household members based on program: any time during the year for Medi-Cal, and before January 1 for Covered California.

Medi-Cal annual redeterminations are set for 12 months after the initial application date or most recent redetermination.  Covered California redeterminations start processing in early October (for 2014) via CalHEERS.  Covered California beneficiaries will be defaulted into their current plans if they don’t make an affirmative change, but they will have the option to switch plans during open enrollment.

When a mixed household population has the same annual redetermination date for Medi-Cal and Covered California, the Medi-Cal redetermination process will initiate the annual redetermination process.  That means the county will go through the ex parte process and request of verifications to confirm Medi-Cal eligibility.

When a mixed household population has different redetermination dates for Medi-Cal and Covered California cases, the redetermination for one will be processed as a change of circumstances for the other, unless the county receives beneficiary information that does not change the information currently on file.

Counties are responsible for Medi-Cal eligibility determinations and ongoing case management of Medi-Cal cases with regards to cases that may have contact with the Exchange.  The counties are required to assist with renewals for mixed households where changes are reported for Covered California that may impact Medi-Cal eligibility.