Please note this notification has been updated as of 7/1/2026
Dear providers,
Recent updates to the California state budget have allowed all Health Plan of San Mateo (HPSM) dental members to maintain their HPSM dental benefits through the end of 2026. Please continue seeing HPSM dental members as usual.
Beginning January 1, 2027 some HPSM members with certain immigration statuses will no longer have dental coverage through HPSM. These members will have their dental coverage transition to California’s Medi-Cal Dental Fee-For-Service (FFS) program. This coverage through California’s Medi-Cal Dental FFS program will last until July 1, 2027 after which time these members will no longer be eligible for California Medi-Cal Dental FFS coverage, except for emergencies.
There are some exceptions to the July 1, 2027 loss of California Medi-Cal Dental FFS coverage detailed below.
We are sending you this notification because this is a network-wide change that will impact many members – including your patients, possibly. This notification is to provide you with the information you may need in case a member has questions about their benefit. If they have questions or need help understanding their:
- Eligibility or immigration status, refer them to San Mateo County Human Services Agency at 650-802-6470 Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m..
- Medi-Cal healthcare benefits, have them call HPSM Member Services at 1-800-750-4776 Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
- Rights, have them email MMCDOmbudsmanOffice@dhcs.ca.gov or call 1-888-452-8609.
Affected members can use their HPSM Dental benefit for all services until December 31, 2026. Starting January 1, 2027, members can find a Medi-Cal Dental provider near them by visiting: https://dental.dhcs.ca.gov/find-a-dentist/home.
Exceptions to the July 1, 2027 loss of California’s Medi-Cal Dental FFS coverage include:
- People younger than 19 years of age.
- People 19 years and older with certain immigration statuses will continue to be eligible for non-emergency dental services through Medi-Cal Dental (fee-for-service) if they are:
- Pregnant, and up to one year after pregnancy.
- Between 19-26 and were in foster care on their 18th birthday.
For the full list of exceptions, or if a member wants to find out if this change applies them, have them visit: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/Medi-Cal/Pages/immigration-status-categories.aspx
Please note that the effective dates in this DHCS webpage above may not yet be updated to reflect the recent extension of dental benefits.
Thank you,
The Health Plan of San Mateo