Reference: Medi-Cal Eligibility Procedures Manual §5H; ACWDL 99-06

CEC provides for up to 12 months of continued $0 share of cost (SOC) Medi-Cal for children under age 19, who would otherwise have their SOC increased above $0 SOC. The CEC period ends with the earlier of the next annual eligibility determination or the child's 19^th birthday. Counties must implement CEC by January 1, 2001.

The 12-month CEC period begins with the first month of $0 SOC eligibility (except for state-only minor consent services). In cases where a child is found eligible for $0 SOC at application, the 12-month CEC period begins with the initial month of eligibility, not with retroactive months. During this CEC period, any changes in the family's financial eligibility, which would cause the child to have a SOC or be totally ineligible, would not go into effect for the child until the annual redetermination unless the child turned 19 before the annual redetermination.

The CEC period also applies to children to preclude discontinuance for non-financial reasons except for death or loss of California residency. Thus if the family is discontinued from Medi-Cal for failing to provide essential information, the family could be discontinued from Medi-Cal by a notice of action, but the child would continue to receive Medi-Cal until the date of the next annual redetermination.