Sourcewise gathered experts and advocates to explain the new California health plan initiative (fifth from left Amber Cutler and (rightmost) Marcelo Espiritu. PHOTO BY HARVEY BARKIN/INQUIRER.net

SANTA CLARA, California Now that about eight million have enrolled in health care plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare), what happens to those who do have Medicare, Medicaid, Medi-Cal, Kaiser, other health care plans or combinations of plans?

Sourcewise (formerly Council on Aging Silicon Valley) recently invited the public to its third session in explaining the Coordinated Care Initiative (CCI), a somewhat confusing and involved process. Sourcewise has made it easier for close to 2,000 attendees to understand CCI.

California took the lead in implementing a health care program that may soon become the nationwide model depending on its progress in the selected eight counties.

Californias CCI passed in July 2012. This year, the goal is to fully implement it in Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties

In Santa Clara County, residents with Medi-Cal number about 210,000. Residents with both Medicare and Medi-Cal are about 35,000. No estimate was given on residents with Kaiser or other work-related health care plans.

Approximately 5,700 Asian seniors live in poverty (in the county), said Marcelo Espiritu, Sourcewise Health Insurance product analyst. Seventy-six percent of Asian seniors struggle to meet basic needs. About 15 percent of the 77,000 Asian seniors are Filipino in Santa Clara.

Medicare beneficiaries possess the white card with red and blue stripes on top. They are 65 years or older or under 65 with certain disabilities such as End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

Medi-Cal beneficiaries possess the plain white card with the states seal on the front. They are usually low-income Californians.

What CCI offers

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Complex health care system for Californias elderly and poor explained