When I'd asked around about other people's
experiences, one person told me he'd had success signing up at a
clinic. I also ran into him at a little sidewalk folk music concert
that evening. I hardly ever run into people from work where I live.
So I was like, it's a sign! I reminded myself of this as I was
waiting in line at DPSS.
I left and drove for about 20 minutes. I found parking at the clinic (YES!
Thank you, parking gods.)
I walked in and the information desk
directed me to a worker at a booth right away. NO LINES.
I pulled out all of my paperwork and
explained my sad story to her. She was trying to tell me I needed to
call another number.
I said "I've been told to call
this and that number and I've tried so many and I can never get
through and I want to don't want to call anyone anymore, I want to
do this in person now."
She asked where I'd gotten my
information from. I said I'd gotten some things from Covered CA and
had also spoken to people at DPSS. A look of horror crossed her face.
"Oh, don't go to DPSS!"
She said "Do you have your case
number?"
I said "I'll show you what I
have," and as I pulled out the letter I got all
the way back in January, she stuck her pink cell phone in my face.
"Give him your case number."
Someone on the other line was asking
what I needed. I was like, "Um....well I'm visiting a clinic and
talking to a counselor and she just told me to give you my case
number..."
He waited, saying nothing. I gave him
my number.
Over the phone, it sounded like he was
doing lots of clicking around on his computer. After a few minutes,
he told me that I had gone from "Pending"
to "Eligible!" He said I could check online and see that my status
had been changed.
He told me that I'd have to wait to get
more information in the mail because they were still processing me,
but if I went somewhere in the county for services, I would probably
be okay.
I asked who I should contact if I
wanted to talk to someone about receiving my information, and he was
like "I don't understand your question."
I said "I mean, aren't I supposed
to receive a Medi-Cal card? Who should I talk to if weeks go by and I
don't get anything? Should I call the county?"
He said I could call back at that
number (and then he gave it to me) but remember not to panic, because
it can take 30-90 days to receive the information.
I said "But I've been waiting
since December."
He sounded annoyed and said "That's
because it was processing" and reiterated that now it's been
changed.
I said, "Well, thank you for doing
that for me."
We hung up. The counselor told me that
if I come in to a county clinic, they should be able to look it up
and accept me under Medi-Cal. She also said that in May, Medi-Cal
would probably start offering some dental services.
I told her I was grateful for the help
she had given me. I was definitely happier as I drove away. The music
on the radio, though (I think it was the middle part of
Stravinsky's Rites of Spring) gave the experience somewhat of an Orwellian feel...
My new online status!
Medi-Cal: Eligible – You can visit a
doctor this month. Your local county office will contact you with
more details within 30 days.
