GCHP Grants Target Looming Medi-Cal Coverage Crisis in Ventura County

CAMARILLO, CA – February 20, 2026 – Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) is launching a multi-million dollar effort to protect health coverage for Ventura County's most vulnerable residents as they face a cascade of new federal eligibility requirements for Medi-Cal. The health plan announced the second year of its Resilience, Innovation, Sustainability & Equity (RISE) Grant Program, offering awards of up to $400,000 to community organizations on the front lines of this impending challenge.

The initiative aims to fund local providers and nonprofits that can help the county's 230,000 Medi-Cal members understand and comply with complex new rules, renew their coverage on time, and avoid falling through the cracks of a system undergoing its most significant overhaul in a decade.

A Looming Coverage Cliff

The grant program arrives at a critical juncture for public health in California. The state is still grappling with the fallout from the 2023 end of the federal continuous coverage provision, a pandemic-era protection that allowed members to stay enrolled in Medi-Cal without interruption. In the year that followed, a period often called the "great unwinding," nearly two million people statewide were disenrolled. Alarmingly, state data revealed that nearly 90% of these disenrollments were for procedural reasons—such as missed deadlines or incomplete paperwork—not because the individuals were actually ineligible.

Now, a new and more challenging wave of federal changes is on the horizon. Starting January 1, 2027, major requirements from H.R. 1 will take effect, directly targeting the Adult Expansion population under the Affordable Care Act. This group, which constitutes approximately half of all Medi-Cal participants in Ventura County, will face stringent new rules.

These changes include a mandate to document at least 80 hours per month of work, education, or volunteer activities to maintain eligibility. Furthermore, the administrative burden will increase significantly, with eligibility redeterminations shifting from an annual to a semi-annual basis. For individuals already struggling with unstable employment, transportation, or access to technology, these hurdles could prove insurmountable.

Other populations also face new pressures. As of this year, new undocumented adult applicants can only qualify for limited, emergency-only Medi-Cal. By 2027, those already receiving full-scope coverage under state funding will face new monthly premiums and the loss of dental benefits. This complex web of policy shifts threatens to unravel the healthcare safety net for thousands in the county.

Mobilizing the Front Lines

In response to this threat, GCHP is doubling down on a strategy of empowering local, trusted community partners. The RISE grants are designed to equip hospitals, health clinics, and community-based organizations with the resources needed to conduct intensive outreach and provide hands-on assistance.

"We want to help every one of our eligible members keep their coverage," said Dr. Felix Nuñez, GCHP's chief executive officer, in a statement. "Through this grant program, we are investing in the health care providers, nonprofits, and community groups that are best positioned to reach members early and help them navigate what's coming – including connecting them with appropriate resources if they no longer meet eligibility requirements."

Projects funded by the grants may include a wide array of interventions, from simple text message and phone call reminders about renewal deadlines to in-person events where staff can provide hands-on help with re-enrollment applications. A key focus is on providing navigation services that are culturally and linguistically accessible, ensuring that language and literacy are not barriers to care.

"The organizations we funded in the inaugural RISE program are already making a difference in how members access care," noted Erik Cho, GCHP's chief policy and program officer. "This second year of funding lets us build on that work by helping our community get ready for changes that could affect coverage for thousands of Ventura County residents."

Beyond Enrollment: A Holistic Approach to Well-being

Significantly, the RISE Grant Program extends its focus beyond administrative assistance. A core component of the initiative is to support programs that connect members with qualifying work, training, education, or volunteer opportunities. This reflects a deeper, more holistic understanding of health that acknowledges the profound impact of social and economic factors.

By helping members meet the new work and community engagement requirements, GCHP and its partners are not just helping them keep their insurance cards; they are investing in their long-term stability and well-being. This innovative approach recognizes that a person's health is inextricably linked to their ability to find stable employment, gain new skills, and participate in their community.

This strategy is further strengthened by GCHP's partnership with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), a renowned organization dedicated to advancing and applying quality improvement science in healthcare. This collaboration suggests a commitment to ensuring that the funded projects are not only well-intentioned but also effective, measurable, and sustainable.

How Organizations Can Get Involved

Applications for the second round of RISE grants opened on February 18, 2026, and will be accepted until April 15, 2026. Gold Coast Health Plan will announce the grant awards on June 1, with the one-year funding period scheduled to run from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.

To guide potential applicants through the process, GCHP and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement will host two informational webinars. The first is scheduled for February 25, 2026, at 1 p.m., and the second will take place on March 10, 2026, at 11 a.m. These sessions will provide a detailed overview of the funding opportunity, the application process, and the program timeline.

Hospitals, health systems, service providers, and community-based organizations interested in applying for a grant or learning more about the program can find detailed information and registration links for the webinars on the Gold Coast Health Plan website.