What is a Notice of Action (NOA)?

A Notice of Action (NOA) is a written notice providing an explanation of eligibility, coverage, or benefits to Medi-Cal applicants and beneficiaries. An NOA includes the decision and effective date of coverage as well as any changes made in eligibility status or level of benefits. If the NOA is denying or terminating a benefit, it should provide a reason for the denial or termination. It also includes information about hearing rights and how to appeal the decision if you disagree with the determination.

Sometimes a denial or termination notice from a managed care plan is called a “Notice of Adverse Benefit Determination” or just an “Adverse Benefit Determination” (ABD) instead of a “Notice of Action.” If you don’t understand your NOA or have questions about your eligibility, you can contact your local county office (or your managed care plan, if that’s who sent the notice) at the phone number listed on the NOA. You may also find county contact information on your Local County Office website.

Note: Most NOAs come in the form of a letter and are fairly straightforward. An IHSS NOA can be more complicated and confusing because it’s a large grid of numbers with little explanation. For a visual walkthrough of an IHSS NOA, see this video explanation from Undivided Public Benefits Specialist Lisa Concoff Kronbeck.