CalOptima Health announces the release of a Community Enrollers for Medi-Cal — Round 2 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), effective Monday, December 1, 2025. This funding opportunity supports organizations and collaboratives that provide outreach, education and enrollment assistance to Orange County residents eligible for Medi-Cal.

This initiative is designed to strengthen community-based efforts that help individuals and families throughout Orange County enroll in and renew Medi-Cal coverage. A total of $5 million is available across Round 2 (open now) and Round 3 (planned for spring 2026), with a minimum of four awards to be granted in Round 2. Active Community Enroller grantees are not eligible to apply for Round 2, but will be eligible for Round 3.

Please use this link to apply: https://webportalapp.com/sp/communityenrollers2

The materials and application portal link will also be available on the CalAIM webpage (under Open Funding Opportunities). All applications must be submitted by Friday, January 9, 2026, at 5 p.m. PST.

Community Enrollers For Medi-Cal Round 2

Link to CalAIM Webpage: click here

Release: Monday, December 1, 2025

Virtual Bidder's Conference: Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 1 p.m. PST.

Register through the link below: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rzXzHk2AQiif9DKiK4gfKA

Proposal Submission Deadline: Friday, January 9, 2026, at 5 p.m. PST.

Please contact CalOptima Health Grants Management with any questions at: communitygrants@caloptima.org.

For assistance, or to learn more and apply, visit:

https://www.caloptima.org/en/community-impact/calaim#Funding.

With Medi-Cal changes coming in the future, CalOptima Health’s mission to keep members healthy has not changed. That is why we’ve launched the Get Care Now Campaign to encourage members to continue seeking care. The campaign will feature print ads, digital and social media ads, radio ads, outdoor transit shelter and bus interior ads, as well as place-based ads. Ads for this campaign are expected to run through March 2026. In addition, CalOptima Health created a toolkit for use by community partners. We encourage you to help us spread the message that members have options for care, including virtual doctor visits and medicine home delivery. A flyer, FAQ and social media content can be downloaded here to share via your organization’s communications channels. Join us in encouraging members to stay healthy and well!

CalOptima Health continues to prepare for the launch of a Covered California line of business, effective January 1, 2027. Following the Board’s approval on June 5, staff submitted an initial filing on June 16 to the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) to expand the scope of CalOptima Health’s current Knox-Keene Act license, which is required to offer a commercial insurance product. Since then, we have engaged with DMHC to respond to comments and provide additional information. On October 31, staff submitted our second filing, including provider network rosters. Staff continue to collaborate with our provider network and execute amendments with several existing vendors to include Covered California in their scopes of service. In addition, operational workstreams are actively working to achieve operational readiness during the next year. Our teams are also currently reviewing and developing strategies to respond to the 2027 Qualified Health Plan application in April 2026 (pending Board approval) and have engaged with Covered California’s Plan Management Advisory Group to maintain alignment. Finally, staff are monitoring regulatory and policy impacts on the Marketplace landscape in California as a result of H.R. 1 to better understand risks to CalOptima Health’s members as well as projected enrollment in 2027. 

The latest in our video series on members features PACE participant Tony Goodwin. Tony grew up in a creative family and pursued a career in music professionally. He later focused on art, teaching thousands of people through “paint and sip” events and private classes. Tony developed multiple chronic autoimmune conditions after a fire, impacting his ability to work, and he became a CalOptima Health member. He joined PACE two years ago and values the coordinated care. Please watch Tony’s video here.

In response to the delays in November's CalFresh benefits and to prevent members from experiencing further food insecurity and malnutrition, CalOptima Health's Board granted up to $1.5 million each to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and Community Action Partnership of Orange County (CAP OC). Together, these organizations distribute 65 million pounds of food annually through a network of community partner locations, including food banks, senior centers, soup kitchens, shelters for the unhoused and transitional housing facilities across the county. Further, the Board approved $5 million to distribute $25 grocery flex cards to CalOptima Health members who are also enrolled in CalFresh. This support was recently made available to eligible members. Please read the press release here.

In November, Government Affairs leaders traveled to Washington, D.C., for a marathon of meetings with key Congressional staff as the federal government remained closed. In addition to meeting with all members of Orange County’s federal delegation, CalOptima Health met with offices holding key positions in party leadership and on health-related committees and caucuses. In each meeting, staff provided updates on the Board’s recent approval of the $19.8 million Medi-Cal Eligibility Outreach Strategy as well as $8 million in supplemental food support for our members enrolled in CalFresh. Staff also advocated for an extension of the expiring Enhanced Advance Premium Tax Credits and requested additional flexibilities from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the implementation of H.R. 1 provisions, particularly new Medicaid work requirements. 

CalOptima Health’s Member and Population Health Needs Assessment (MPHNA) is making significant progress. The provider survey concluded in August with 301 responses, exceeding previous assessments. Preliminary highlights will be shared at the upcoming provider forums, and detailed data will be included in the final MPHNA report. The member survey began on October 23, with outreach conducted via online platforms, postcards and in-person events. So far, we have received nearly 800 responses. We have engaged internal and external stakeholders and community partners through over 20 events to encourage member participation, as well as utilizing community events and our Street Medicine and PACE programs to augment responses. We will continue our efforts to promote the member survey until it closes in mid-December. Additionally, facilitation of 10 focus groups is ongoing and is scheduled to be completed by mid-December.

CalOptima Health, in collaboration with AHSD, will host a Holiday Resource Fair and toy distribution event featuring special guest Congressman Lou Correa.

Event Highlights:

• Toy distribution (Registration required)
• Food distribution (while supplies last)
• Medi-Cal and CalFresh Enrollment

When: Saturday, December 6

Time: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Location: Magnolia High School, 2450 W. Ball Rd., Anaheim

See flyer for additional event details.

Registration is required, click here.

Families Together is hosting a special toy distribution event. Attendees will enjoy a day of festivities, entertainment and holiday cheer.

When: Saturday, December 20

Time: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Location: Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim

Registration is required, click here.

All participants must be Orange County residents and limited to one toy per household. To learn more, view flyers in English and Spanish.

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) for CalOptima Health OneCare (HMO D-SNP), a Medicare Medi-Cal Plan, runs through December 7. To be eligible for OneCare a member must be:

• Age 21 and older
• Living in Orange County
• Enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B
• Receiving Medi-Cal benefits

Starting in 2026, the OneCare Flex Plus plan will be consolidated into the OneCare Complete plan due to changes in the federal Medicare program. All existing OneCare Flex Plus members will be transitioned into OneCare Complete.

• CalOptima Health OneCare Complete — Our original plan offers $0 copays on medical and hospital services and generic prescription drugs. It includes many extras, such as a fitness benefit, comprehensive dental, more vision care, a flex card for over-the-counter (OTC) items and for those who qualify, food and produce.

As an Exclusively Aligned Enrollment D-SNP, OneCare can accept enrollment from members every month due to the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for dual-eligibles.

Our 2026 OneCare advertising effort extends the success of last year’s “Built Around You” campaign by using focus group feedback to refine and refresh the creative elements. In addition, we introduced a dedicated caregiver campaign, emphasizing the crucial role caregivers play in health care decisions for their loved ones. The campaign includes print, outdoor, television, streaming audio, online display, social media and paid search ads.

Individuals who are covered by both Medi-Cal and Medicare could qualify for CalOptima Health OneCare (HMO D-SNP), a Medicare Medi-Cal Plan. Learn more about this special plan at our upcoming in-person presentation: 

Superior Grocers | 1710 S. Main St., Santa Ana

• Thursday, December 4, 2 p.m.

Presentations are only offered in English, and light snacks will be served. To learn more, view event flyers in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.  

CalOptima Health OneCare (HMO D-SNP), a Medicare Medi-Cal Plan, now offers members a flex card (OneCare &more card) to purchase over-the-counter items (and in some cases, groceries) in-store and online. Additionally, the health rewards members have been able to earn in the form of a physical gift card in previous years are now added to the flex card instead. Members can earn rewards by completing certain health care tests or screenings and submitting an online form on this page.

To use the flex card, a member must first activate the card by texting ACTIVATE to 53746, calling 1-855-263-6673 (TTY 711), or visiting andmorehealth.com/onecare. Many members have not yet activated their cards and are missing out on the benefits. If members need help, please encourage them to call OneCare Customer Service at 1-877-412-2734 (TTY 711).