SLO County Health Access Update
Connecting Children Ages 0-5 to Health Care
March 2020
COVID-19 and Family Earnings  
How to help clients replace their paycheck when the COVID-19 virus interferes with work
 
Things are changing rapidly with the COVID-19 response, and the federal government is working on legislation that may provide more financial support for wage earners who are impacted by the virus. Here's a summary of currently available income supports and resources:
 
1. There are three State of California Employment Development Department (EDD) programs to help workers impacted by COVID-19:
 
Sick or Quarantined? Disability Insurance Claims : If your client is unable to work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional), they can file a Disability Insurance (DI) claim . DI provides short-term benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. Benefit amounts are approximately 60%-70% of wages (depending on income). 
 
Caregiving? Paid Family Leave Claims: If your client is unable to work because they are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional), they can file a Paid Family Leave (PFL) claim . PFL provides up to six weeks of benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages because they need time off work to care for a seriously ill family member or to bond with a new child. Benefit amounts are approximately 60%-70%of wages (depending on income).
 
Reduced Work Hours? Unemployment Insurance Claims: If your client's employer has reduced their hours or shut down operations due to COVID-19, they can immediately file an Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim . UI provides partial wage replacement benefit payments to workers who lose their job or have their hours reduced, through no fault of their own. Last week's Governor's Executive Order waives the one-week unpaid waiting period so families can collect Unemployment Insurance benefits for the first week they are out of work. 
 
For more information:
 
2. Legal Aid at Work is a statewide non-profit which provides legal consultations to low-income people about employment issues. Click here for a link to Legal Aid at Work's information about issues related to the coronavirus, including if workers experience discrimination related to the coronavirus COVID-19. Please note the disclaimer on the bottom of the fact sheet about providing legal advice.
 
If you have any questions about these resources, contact Abby Lassen on the First 5 Health Access team at [email protected].
 
COVID-19 and Medi-Cal, Private Insurance, and Public Charge 
The CA Department of Health Care Services reminded Medi-Cal health plans that all testing, screening for treatment of the COVID-19 coronavirus must be provided at no cost to Medi-Cal members. There should be no prior authorization requirements for these services or for related prescription medications. Out-of-network access should be allowed.

All Covered California plans and many private insurance plans (those regulated by the State) are also directed by the state to provide the same access to coronavirus services and medications.

The federal government confirmed that the new public charge rule will not consider testing and treatment for coronavirus even if Medi-Cal pays for it or a County program provides it. Please reassure immigrants that testing and treatment will not impact their immigration status.

If you have any questions about health coverage for the coronavirus, contact Abby Lassen on the First 5 Health Access team at [email protected].

For more information: healthconsumer.org/covid19/
Free School Meals for Children Ages 0-18  
School districts across the county are closed but they are providing free meals at pick-up locations for all children ages 0-18. As of today, eight districts have information online about school meals.

For a listing of meal locations by district:
Coast Union (Cambria)
Census Invitations Arriving Now - Remind Families to Reply by Phone or Internet 
 
It's that once-in-a-decade time ... the U.S. Census.
Remind parents: Every Child Counts! 

Census invitations will be arriving in mailboxes between March 12-24. Each address receives one letter and can reply by phone or internet or wait for a paper copy or home visit. 
 
You can help ensure that our programs get the funding they need and our children get fully counted. Share the following messages with your clients and download this flyer to hand out throughout March and April. Help clients fill out their census forms. And contact Jason Wells at [email protected] or 805-781-4058 if you need pre-printed flyers or would like other Census materials to post and hand out.  
 
 
Key Messages to Share with Families: 
  • The Census is coming - watch for your postcard!
  • It's easy - 10 minutes or less.
  • This is your chance to make a difference in your neighborhood. Help bring federal dollars to our local programs.
  • You and your family deserve to be counted.
  • Count all children in your house.
  • You can fill out your Census online using a smart phone or computer, or by telephone.
  • No need to wait for someone to come to your house. Fill it out early to avoid a home visit.

If more than one family lives at one address, they should try to fill out the form together. If another household already filled it out for their address and did not include your client, encourage them to use the phone or internet options to complete the Census for their individual family. Together we can make sure that Everyone Counts!
Health Access Information at SLOHealthAccess.org
A First 5 SLO County Funded Program
SLOHealthAccess.org has a wealth of information to help you help families, with local resources related to:
   * Special Needs     
   * Behavioral Health
   * Immigration: safety and service access  
   * Dental
   * Prescriptions
   * Medi-Cal & Covered CA
   * Transportation
   * Parental Substance Use, and 
   * R esources to help parents advocate for services

General needs and system navigation:
Send families in need of help to their local Family Resource Center : 
 

Can't find an answer? 
Let us know and we will find you  the  informati on  you are looking for.  For general questions about health ac cess and health care refo rm,  contact:
Becca Carsel, Health Access Project Director,  
at (805) 674-0776 or [email protected] .phone
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