Upcoming Medi-Cal Changes, Volunteer Opportunity, and More

Dear District 5 Resident,

With a few weeks to go until the new year, I continue to focus on advocating for those most in need in our district.

I am particularly concerned about important updates to Medi-Cal for undocumented adults beginning January 1st. Recent changes in federal and state policy will limit access and reduce benefit coverage. To help make sure Medi-Cal recipients and those eligible are aware of these changes and have time to act, I co-authored an op-ed with information on the enrollment deadline and the loss of full dental benefits coming later this year.

To ensure our district’s priorities are represented statewide, I spent several days at the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Annual Meeting. I participated in policy discussions ranging from health care access to disaster response. These conversations are important because they help shape decisions that impact our future in Santa Cruz County.

In other news, I am looking to appoint a resident from our district to fill an open seat on the County’s Housing Advisory Commission. If you are passionate about housing policy issues and interested in participating in local government, please read on for how to apply.

Although appointment slots are fully booked for my next Office Hours on December 17, you are welcome to drop by in case of cancellations or if extra time allows I will do my best to meet with you. You can also sign up for other upcoming Office Hours on my website. As always, if you need to speak with me, I can be reached at fifth.district@santacruzcountyca.gov.

[officialname]

Santa Cruz County Supervisor, District 5

Advocating for District 5 in Statewide Policy

Photo: Supervisor Martinez at the CSAC Annual Meeting.

Last week I spent several days at the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Annual Meeting, connecting with Supervisors from all 58 counties across California.

As a member of the Health and Human Services Committee, I attended a meeting on Thursday focused on protecting access to health care, featuring the Director of Health Care Services. I also heard from Attorney General Rob Bonta about efforts to safeguard Californians from federal policy changes, and I attended a forum with candidates vying to become the next Governor of California. I am also a proud member of the Latino Caucus of California Counties.

I am working to ensure our district’s priorities are represented in statewide policy discussions, especially around disaster recovery, healthcare access, early childhood services, affordable housing, and in the infrastructure our communities rely on. These statewide conversations help shape decisions that directly impact Santa Cruz County and our future.

Medi-Cal Enrollment Changes Beginning Jan 1st

I want to make sure you are aware of upcoming Medi-Cal enrollment and benefit changes, which go into effect in 2026. Below are key highlights. For more information read my op-ed co-authored with Supervisor Hernandez in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

Enrollment for Undocumented Adults: If you are an undocumented adult who is not yet enrolled in Medi-Cal, you must apply before January 1, 2026 to keep full benefits after this date. To apply, call 888-421-8080.
Dental Care: All Medi-Cal members, especially adults, should schedule dental visits now and finish any needed dental work before full coverage loss will go into effect on July 1, 2026. For help finding a Medi-Cal Dental provider, visit smilecalifornia.org/find-a-dentist or call 1-800-322-6384.

For help with food, housing, or other services, visit the County’s resource page. My office also helped coordinate a list of local food distribution and meal programs in our district. Please help spread the word and share with others who might be in need.

Kaiser Program Offers Income-Based Health Coverage

For individuals and families who cannot afford traditional insurance options, the Kaiser Permanente (KP) Charitable Health Coverage Program offers income-based health coverage at little to no monthly cost. With so much uncertainty about health care access and rising costs, this program offers a stable path to high-quality coverage for those who need it most. To learn about eligibility requirements and available services, see the flyer. If interested, call Salud Para La Gente at 831-728-0222 to help guide you through the application process.

Volunteer with Meals on Wheels in SLV

As the holidays approach, I hope you will consider volunteering your time to Meals on Wheels, which is an important food service for seniors in our community. Currently, they are looking for volunteer drivers in the San Lorenzo Valley to help deliver meals. If you’ve been thinking about making a difference in your community, now is the perfect time to get involved. Click here to apply and start changing lives!

PG&E Launches Program to Help Reduce Overdue Balances

PG&E launched a new program, Match My Payment, to help qualifying customers pay down past-due energy bills. Through this initiative, PG&E will match eligible customers’ one-time payments – up to $1,000 made toward their overdue balance.

This program is especially helpful for seniors and low-income households facing financial hardship. Eligible customers can receive one matched payment between now and March 31, 2026. For more information, visit PG&E’s Match My Payment page.

Apply for Open Seat on the Housing Advisory Commission

Are you interested in participating in local government and making a difference in your community? One way you can do this is to serve on a Santa Cruz County Commission.

Currently, I am seeking a District 5 resident (and one alternate) to serve as a member of the Housing Advisory Commission (HAC), which advises the Board of Supervisors on a range of housing policy issues. The Commission’s purview includes assessing housing needs in the County and making recommendations on public programs to meet those needs, including deliberating on housing problems and potential solutions.

Meetings typically occur from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every other month at the Santa Cruz County Government Center. Regular meeting times may change following the restructuring of the HAC, which is currently in process. Interested in applying? Submit an application online. Questions? Call the Clerk of the Board’s Office at 831-454-2323.

Board Meeting Locations Updated

With long-planned renovations of the Board Chambers still underway, the County announced meeting locations for the January Board Meetings, which includes a meeting hosted right here in our district at the Scotts Valley City Council Chambers on January 13.

If you haven’t been to a Board meeting yet, I hope you will consider taking advantage of this rare opportunity to attend a meeting closer to home. The meeting agenda will be published on the public portal on the Thursday prior to the meeting.

Our next Board meeting will be on December 16 at the County Government Center Community Room.

Office Hours

To reduce wait time, we are utilizing a reservation system. Click here to reserve a 15 minute time-slot in advance. Drop-in visitors are still welcome, and will be seen in order of arrival as time allows between or after reservations.

December 17 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Highlands Park Senior & Community Center, 8500 Highway 9, Ben Lomond) *Appointment slots full*
January 22 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (Scotts Valley Public Library Fireside Room, 251 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley)
February 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Felton Office, 6062 Graham Hill Road, Suite A & B, Felton)
March 16 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Boulder Creek Sheriff's Substation, 13210 Central Avenue, Boulder Creek)
April 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Highlands Park Senior & Community Center, 8500 Highway 9, Ben Lomond)

The purpose of In-District Office Hours is to provide a convenient way for me to hear from you. However, if you have a problem that requires more than 15 minutes to discuss, or you cannot come during the times listed above, my office is happy to work with you to schedule another time to meet. Contact my staff at fifth.district@santacruzcountyca.gov or call 831-454-2200.

Upcoming Board Meetings

Read meeting agendas here as they become available. Upcoming meetings will take place at 9 a.m. until their conclusion on:

December 16, 2025 (County Government Center, Community Room, 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz)
January 13, 2026 (Scotts Valley City Council Chambers, 1 Civic Center Drive, Scotts Valley)
January 27, 2026 (County Government Center, Community Room, Santa Cruz)

Upcoming Medi-Cal Changes, Volunteer Opportunity, and More

District 5 Team

Office Locations