Medi-Cal Members Can Get Help With Internet Costs In Sacramento County

Press release from the Sacramento County Government:

August 5, 2021

Registration is now open for an emergency broadband program that will help Medi-Cal members and other low-income residents receive up to $50 a month to cover their internet costs. All Medi-Cal members qualify, and it will not affect their health coverage. Funds are limited, so act quickly. The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program that provides a temporary discount on monthly broadband bills during the COVID-19 pandemic for qualifying low-income households.

To qualify you must have:

• An income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participate in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medi-Cal, or Lifeline;
• Been approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision in the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year;
• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
• Experienced a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020 and the household had a total income in 2020 at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers; or
• Met the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's existing low-income or COVID-19 program.
• An income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participate in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medi-Cal, or Lifeline;
• Been approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision in the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year;
• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
• Experienced a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020 and the household had a total income in 2020 at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers; or
• Met the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's existing low-income or COVID-19 program.

The program will end once the program funds are exhausted, or six months after the Department of Health and Human Services declares an end to the pandemic, whichever comes first.

This press release was produced by the Sacramento County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.