Monterey County Launches Esperanza Care 2026 Program to Expand Access to Health Care  

(SALINAS, Calif., June 11, 2026) – Monterey County has launched the Esperanza Care 2026 Program, a new initiative designed to provide limited health care services to eligible county residents who are uninsured and do not qualify for full-scope Medi-Cal.

Esperanza Care 2026 is authorized by the Board of Supervisors of Monterey County:
• Provides certain health care services to residents who qualify for the program.
• Has an enrollment limit of 500 residents.
• Available to residents who make less than 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Level
(FPL), who do not qualify for full-scope Medi-Cal and who have no other insurance.
• Offered to people aged 19 and older.
• The program is currently scheduled to end on June 30, 2027, or sooner when funding is
exhausted.

Esperanza Care 2026 is not an insurance plan nor a promise of services.

APPLICATION PROCESS:
• Residents who wish to apply for Esperanza Care 2026 must complete an application and
attest to their eligibility
• Applications will only be accepted for a limited time at Natividad Financial Counseling,
1441 Constitution Blvd., Salinas, 93906

ACCESSING HEALTHCARE UNDER THE ESPERANZA PROGRAM:
• Enrollees must initially see a primary care provider at one of the Monterey County Health
Department Clinic locations
• The primary care provider may refer enrollees for covered services at Natividad Medical
Center for specialty clinics, laboratory and radiology services
• Selected prescriptions may be covered through Walgreens

AVAILABLE SERVICES:
• Primary Care services at Monterey County Health Department
• Natividad Medical Center:
Diagnostic Imaging (e.g. X-Rays, MRIs, CT scans)
Laboratory Procedures (excludes reference lab tests that NMC sends offsite)
Specialty Clinic office visits (with referral from the Health Department)
Diabetic Education (with referral from the Health Department)
• Prescriptions ordered by the Health Department primary care provider and on the list of
covered medications

NON-COVERED SERVICES (NOTE: This is not intended to be the complete listing of noncovered services):
• No services outside of Natividad Medical Center and Health Department Clinics
• Chemotherapy
• Physical/Occupational/Speech Therapy
• Cardiology Tests (i.e. EKG, echo, stress test)
• Emergency room services
• Outpatient Surgery
• Inpatient care provided by any hospital (including Natividad Medical Center)
• Interventional Radiology