Homeless and uninsured

Many homeless individuals in California are not taking advantage of their newfound Medi-Cal eligibility.

Under the Affordable Care Act’s expansion of Medi-Cal, 1.4 million California residents are eligible for the program, including more than half of the state’s homeless population, according to HealthyCal.org. But homeless people have been hesitant to use the coverage, turning instead to no-cost medical clinics.

Likely reasons the homeless haven’t enrolled in Medi-Cal or used their coverage include: discomfort in traditional medical settings; lack of understanding about the Medi-Cal enrollment process; uncertainty about whether they qualify for Medi-Cal; and inability to provide birth certificates, drivers licenses or Social Security cards.