(Steve Rhodes, Creative Commons)

The Low Income Health Program shared half the financial responsibility for HWLA with Los Angeles County, taking no contributions from the state General Fund. After nearly four years serving Angelinos with low to no income, HWLA, along with all its current members, will be picked up by Medi-Cal. 

Michael Wilson, the Director of Communications at the LA Country Department of Health Services said, "We have approximately 270,000 members enrolled in the Healthy Way LA program. This program is called the Bridge to Health Care Reform, because of all these enrollees will move seamlessly into the Medi-Cal program starting Jan. 1, 2014."

"Our goal is to enroll 300,000 members by year's end. The Healthy Way LA program officially ends Dec. 31, and we will be enrolling members up until that date," he added.

Some might be tempted to wait for HWLA to convert to Medi-Cal. There are, however, reasons that make applying to this county program easier than applying for Medi-Cal directly.  

HWLA has application centers throughout Los Angeles. Many are approved or denied for the program the same day they apply. This means they can walk into a clinic without any coverage and leave with health coverage of no cost to them. 

Applying for Medi-Cal, on the other hand, can often be a much longer process. 

Applicants must fill out an application and provide proof of certain criteria regarding income levels and residency. 

Current HWLA members will be receiving information regarding their membership during the last three months of the year. 

In terms of the stages of communication, Wilson says, "The county is going to be sending a letter to all enrollees later this month on behalf of the state of California, alterting them to this coverage shift. That will be followed by a Medi-Cal Health Plan Enrollment packet that will come from the state in November. Then members will receive what's called a Medi-Cal welcome packet in December."

On Jan. 1, 2014, all current HWLA members who enroll will officially become apart of Medi-Cal.

Wilson says, "Most members will go into one of two health care programs; either the LA Care Health Plan or Health Net."

"We're trying very hard to make sure that all current Healthy Way LA members that are with the Department of Health Services stay with us, because they will have choices," says Wilson. 

Healthy Way LA holds an enrollment event every Saturday between 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the LAC+USC Medical Center.

Read more about Obamacare here.

Reach Staff Reporter Tahsin Hyder here.