The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommends that you delay travel until two weeks after you are fully vaccinated (after your second dose in a 2-dose series or single dose vaccine). The CDC also provides information on COVID-19 testing before and after travel, as well as recommendations for travel by car. Click here for more 4th of July holiday safety.

Income eligible households (renters and landlords) may qualify for COVID-19 rent relief. The rent relief program assists individuals who have experienced financial hardship caused by COVID-19 and need help paying rent or utilities. Rules vary by city. Click here for more information.

On July 1, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) will launch the Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program. This new program will cover hearing aids and related services for about 7,000 children under age 18 who have a household income of up to 600% of the federal poverty level and who are not otherwise eligible for Medi-Cal. The benefit will be available to individuals whose health insurance does not cover hearing aids and services. For more information, please visit the DHCS website.

Mind OC is partnering with California State University, Fullerton and Health Management Associates under the Behavior Health System Transformation 1 project to better understand the availability of services to residents of Orange County, as well as identifying gaps in services that need to be addressed.

Representatives of organizations that provide mental health services and supports and/or treatment for substance use disorders in Orange County, are asked to respond to a survey, which you can find here. Please respond by July 13.

DHCS, on behalf of the California Department of Aging (CDA), is soliciting input on the Master Plan for Aging Initiative. The goal is to modernize Medicare counseling services to serve more beneficiaries and to improve cultural competency and language access within existing resources. A survey is being conducted to gain a better understanding of experiences with the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) and explore opportunities to improve and expand services. Your feedback can be provided via this short survey. Input received will be incorporated into a report to CDA leadership to help inform their strategy to modernize HICAP. Feedback is due by Friday, July 2.

CalOptima Customer Service remains ready to respond to member needs. Members can call Customer Service from the safety of their home, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We have staff who speak their language. Members can also visit www.caloptima.org and access their member portal.