Winning Health | Gold Coast Health Plan | Issue 1 | Summer 2019

WINNING HEALTH 4 Stay covered! Medi-Cal renews once a year, unless you have a change that affects your eligibility during the year. Renewals are done by the Ventura County Human Services Agency (HSA), not by Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP). Here is how it works: ●  ● HSA will first try to automatically fill out your renewal by using information from electronic data sources. If more information is needed, HSA will send you a redetermination packet. ●  ● If you have Medi-Cal through the Social Security Administration (SSA) because you get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you have a different process. The SSA will let you know if they need any information from you. ●  ● If HSA or SSA needs information from you to renew your benefits, they will send you a redetermination packet or ask for verification. It is important to return it by the due date. If you don’t, your Medi-Cal benefits may end. If you have moved since you enrolled, call HSA at 1-888- 472-4463/TTY 1-800-735-2929 and give them your new address. If you lose your Medi-Cal benefits, you will not be a GCHP member anymore. If this occurs, you may reapply for Medi-Cal, but you may not have coverage for some time. Measles: Cases on the rise Measles is making a comeback–even though there’s a vaccine that can help prevent it. Doctors thought they’d mostly wiped out measles in this country in 2000. But there have been outbreaks here since then. Here’s why: ●  ● Most people who get measles aren’t vaccinated. ●  ● Measles is still common in other countries. ●  ● When unvaccinated people from the U.S. travel to other countries, they can get measles. And when they return, they can spread the disease. Know the symptoms Measles starts with a fever, a cough, a runny nose and red eyes. Next, a rash of red spots breaks out all over the body. Kids with measles may also get an ear infection. Or they may have diarrhea. Measles is highly contagious, and it can be serious. It can cause pneumonia and swelling of the brain. Some kids even die from measles. Protect your child Are you a parent? Then be sure your child’s measles vaccine is up-to-date. It’s safe and effective. And it’s a combination vaccine. It protects against measles, mumps and rubella. Kids need two doses of this vaccine. Here’s the typical timing: ●  ● First dose: 12 to 15 months of age. ●  ● Second dose: 4 to 6 years of age. Adults may also need a vaccine. Ask your doctor if you should get one. Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention