Faces of Medi-Cal
Lucas Moreno Ramirez sits at his kitchen table and looks directly at the camera. His medication is visible beside him.

Faces of Medi-Cal

A California Healthline series exploring the impact of the state’s safety-net health program on enrollees.

Featured Stories

Beyond Insulin: Medi-Cal Expands Patient Access to Diabetes Supplies

November 16, 2023

California’s Medicaid program is making it easier for people with diabetes to obtain the supplies and equipment they need to manage their blood sugar, partly by relaxing preauthorization requirements that can cause life-threatening delays.

June Voros is sitting on a couch in her home. Her hands are placed on her knees and she looks towards the camera.

‘I’m So Burned Out’: Fighting to See a Specialist Amplified Pain for Riverside County Woman

October 10, 2023

Teresa Johnson has been in extreme pain for more than a year after what she believes was a severe allergic reaction to iodine. Her Medi-Cal plan approved her referral to a specialist, but it took her numerous phone calls, multiple complaints, and several months to book an appointment.

Teresa Johnson is sitting on a couch in her home. She is turning her head to look towards the photographer.

Medi-Cal Covers Gender-Transition Treatment, but Getting It Isn’t Easy

August 3, 2023

Pasha Wrangell has faced delays getting gender-affirming care because of red tape and limited providers. Over more than two years, Wrangell has received only about half the total electrolysis sessions recommended. Wrangell’s insurer through Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, acknowledges the shortage of practitioners.

Share your Medi-Cal story

We want to hear about your experiences and, with your permission, may incorporate your story into our coverage. Please tell us what it has been like for you as you have sought and received care, including the good and the bad, the obstacles and the successes.

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Comparta su historia con Medi-Cal

Queremos conocer sus experiencias y, con su permiso, poder incorporar su historia en nuestra cobertura. Cuéntenos su experiencia mientras buscaba y recibía atención, incluyendo lo bueno y lo malo, los obstáculos y los éxitos.

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More From the Project

Medi-Cal’s Fragmented System Can Make Moving a Nightmare

July 6, 2023

When Medi-Cal beneficiary Lloyd Tennison moved last year from Contra Costa County to San Joaquin County, he was bumped off his managed care plan without notice before his new coverage took effect. His case highlights a chronic issue in California’s fragmented Medicaid program.

A photo of an older man standing outside with a walker.

On the Brink of Homelessness, San Diego Woman Wins the Medi-Cal Lottery

June 12, 2023

Annie Malloy, of San Diego, is among the first to receive a new housing move-in benefit from Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program. It’s an effort to help homeless and near-homeless people who might otherwise rack up huge medical bills.

A photo of Annie Malloy standing for a photo as she cleans the motel room she had been living in.

For Sacramento Teen, Medi-Cal Coverage of Early Psychosis Treatment Proved a Lifesaver

April 28, 2023

A Medi-Cal patient illustrates how early schizophrenia treatments can yield big benefits. Advocates want California to expand such services to more people living with severe mental illness, which they argue will not only improve lives but also save money over time.

A photo of a teenager posing for a portrait by a window indoors.

California’s Massive Medicaid Program Works for Some, but Fails Many Others

March 2, 2023

Medi-Cal serves more than one-third of the state’s population — offering a dizzying range of care to a diverse population. In the new “Faces of Medi-Cal” series, California Healthline will assess the program’s strengths and weaknesses through the lives and experiences of its enrollees.

Carolina Morga Tapia stands outside in a park with her five children. Two of the youngest are sitting in a green wagon.
Related Project

Medi-Cal Makeover

California’s Medicaid program, Medi-Cal, is the largest in the nation, serving nearly 15 million low-income people, including roughly 40% of the state’s children. The state is embarking on a massive transformation of the program, which has been slammed for providing subpar care and limited access to specialty treatment. The goal is to improve health care quality and save money. Will it work?

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Credits

Reporters

Angela Hart
Bernard J. Wolfson
Samantha Young
Molly Castle Work

Photographers

Heidi de Marco
Rich Pedroncelli
Kevin Painchaud
Colby Tarsitano

Editors

Emily Bazar
Judy Lin
Jonathan Weber
Terry Byrne
Gabe Brison-Trezise

Producers

Lydia Zuraw
David Hicks
Lynne Shallcross
Eric Harkleroad