For families across the Central Valley, access to healthcare is about much more than having a doctor nearby. It means keeping your coverage, making it to appointments, receiving follow-up care, and understanding what to do when the healthcare system becomes complicated. That is particularly important right now as Medi-Cal rules are changing in 2026 and beyond.

For many families throughout Stanislaus and Merced counties, Medi-Cal provides an essential connection to medical, dental, and behavioral health care. Each year, counties review whether patients and their family members still qualify through a process known as redetermination, or renewal. Most people who go through that process continue to qualify, but coverage can still be lost because a renewal notice went to an old address, paperwork was overlooked, or a form was not returned on time.

How to Ensure Your Coverage Continues

When coverage is interrupted, so can the care that depends on it. A missed primary care visit can mean a health concern goes unchecked. A delayed follow-up appointment can make it harder to determine whether treatment is working, while preventive dental, medical, and behavioral health care can be put off until a problem becomes more serious. That is why continuity of care matters.

For patients with Medi-Cal, some of the most important steps are also among the simplest: make sure the county has your current address, phone number, and email; watch carefully for renewal notices; read them when they arrive; and return any requested information by the deadline. If coverage does end, patients should not automatically assume they are out of options. Depending on the circumstances, they may be able to provide missing information, reapply, or appeal a decision.

Healthcare providers also have a responsibility to help patients remain connected to care, particularly when navigating the system becomes difficult. At Lumira Healthcare, one way we are addressing that challenge is through patient navigation. Patient Navigators help patients understand coverage questions, coordinate referrals, and connect with transportation, language assistance, and community resources when those issues are keeping them from receiving care.

But patient navigation is only one part of a larger issue. Throughout the Central Valley, many of the barriers affecting a person’s health happen outside the exam room. A patient may have a referral but no transportation to the next appointment. Someone managing a chronic condition may also be struggling with food insecurity. Another patient may not understand an insurance notice or know who to contact for help. Those challenges can have real consequences for a person’s health.

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Healthcare Success Requires Teamwork

The goal of our healthcare system should not simply be to provide excellent care once someone reaches an exam room. We also have to think about whether patients can get there, stay connected to their providers, and follow the care plan once they leave. That becomes even more important during periods of change.

As Medi-Cal rules continue to evolve, patients should pay close attention to communications about their coverage, and healthcare providers should make sure people know where they can turn for help. Preventing avoidable gaps in coverage and care can help patients continue managing their health before a small problem becomes a larger one.

For communities across the Central Valley, protecting access to healthcare means protecting continuity of care. It requires patients, providers, and community organizations working together to make a complicated system easier to navigate. Ultimately, the measure of a healthcare system should not only be the care we provide, but also how well we help people stay connected to it.

About the Author

Leslie Abasta is the chief executive officer of Lumira Healthcare (formerly Livingston Community Health), a community-based health care provider serving patients across California’s Central Valley.

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