Information and articles from these newsletters are housed on the San Luis Obispo County Health Access website. The website is updated frequently and is intended as a resource for professionals working with children ages 0-5 and their families.

Please visit: SLOHealthAccess.org.

To view this newsletter in your browser click here.

Medi-Cal Updates

Important reminders:

Starting in January 2026, adults who are undocumented will no longer be able to sign up for full scope Medi-Cal. After January, new applicants who are undocumented can only get Medi-Cal for emergencies and care during pregnancy. 

Undocumented residents can still apply for full scope Medi-Cal before the end of the year. Encourage clients to contact their case manager or local DSS office to check their application status or to apply.

Note that undocumented children are NOT affected by this change. They continue to be eligible for Medi-Cal based on their family's income.

If you have any questions, please email Jennifer Nitzel, Medi-Cal Program Manager at the Department of Social Services: jnitzel@co.slo.ca.us. People can enroll in Medi-Cal by mail, phone, or in person. See this flyer for more information about applying.

Your clients can learn more about upcoming changes, including changes to dental coverage and asset limits, by watching this episode of Healthy Voices in English, Spanish, and Mixteco,

Current Medi-Cal members, and those interested in applying, can visit a new website from California Department of Health Care Services to find information, including:

• An eligibility calculator to help people quickly see if they might qualify.
• An interactive map making it easier to find a county office.
• A benefits page explaining coverage in simple terms, so members know what services are available and how to use them.

Covered California Update

As you may have heard, the Affordable Care Act ('Obamacare') enhanced premium tax credits for health insurance have not been extended by Congress. This means Covered California health insurance rates will be higher in 2026 for most people who purchase these plans through Covered California.

The good news is that the California State Legislature has set aside funds to help lower-income residents keep their premiums stable. Residents who earn more than the Medi-Cal limit but whose incomes are still under 150% of the federal poverty level will have extra support to prevent cost increases for Covered California plans. People with slightly higher incomes will have some additional support so their Covered California premiums will rise less than expected.

Please urge families who are unsure whether to apply for Covered California health insurance to check for a plan that is affordable.

Key dates:

• Open Enrollment: November 1 - January 31, 2026. Renew health coverage or enroll in a new health plan during this period.
• To be covered by health insurance for all of 2026, select a plan by December 31.

To explore Covered CA plans:

• Visit Covered California online: Compare plans, check financial help and enroll before the January 31, 2026 deadline.
• Phone assistance in multiple languages: 800-300-1506
• In-person: search for local enrollment help.

Family Support Program Updates

Parents Helping Parents is offering individual appointments for family support to assist with navigating the IFSP/IEP/504 plan process and documents.



Appointments are offered the 2nd & 4th Monday of each month via Zoom from 12:00 - 1:00 pm. Spanish interpretation available upon request. Email to make an appointment! php@ucp-slo.org

Tolosa Children's Dental Center (TCDC) is accepting new patients in Paso Robles! Children can quickly be seen by a doctor and scheduling is easy by phone or on the website: https://tolosachildrensdental.org/contact-us/

TCDC serves special needs children and is experienced with serving Spanish and Mixteco speaking families. Medi-Cal (Denti-Cal) insurance is accepted. Other plans can be billed, but require a co-pay at the time services are provided. TCDC provides a sliding-fee scale for cash paying patients.

The WIC Paso Robles Clinic is open! WIC serves families who are pregnant and parenting children ages 0 - 5. This program does not request or collect immigration status information. Visit the Paso Robles Clinic:

• 805 4th St. Paso Robles, Suite 235
• Monday - Thursday 8am - 5pm, Friday 8am - 4:30pm
• Call 805-237-3065 or text 888-417-6180. Spanish and Mixteco available

Apply online: slocounty.ca.gov/WIC

Access WIC services at other locations: SLO County WIC

Holiday Wellness Support

Along with joy and excitement, the holiday season can bring hectic schedules, extra stressors, and unwelcome memories. The Holiday Guide from County of San Luis Obispo Behavioral Health provides a variety of helpful tips, strategies, and local resources for:

• Stress
• Grief
• Holiday blues
• Sobriety, and more.

Download the Guide in English and Spanish to use and share with your clients. Remember to take care of your mental and physical health this holiday season!