Covered California’s Historic First Open Enrollment Finishes with Projections Exceeded; Agents, Counselors, Community Organizations and County Workers Credited as Reason for High Enrollment in California
Covered California,
Department of Health Care Services and Other Partners Help More Than 3 Million
Californians Get Coverage
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — With a final surge over the past two weeks, more than 3 million California consumers enrolled in health
insurance plans or in Medi-Cal by April 15, Covered California™ and the California
Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced today.
“Bringing health insurance and health care to so many Californians
is a big achievement that was
accomplished in no small measure by the work of our employees, our partners at
DHCS, insurance agents, Certified Enrollment Counselors, county partners and
community organizations who spread the word about this historic initiative,”
Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee said. “We are proud of what
California has achieved, but recognize this is only the beginning of a long
road of expanding affordable coverage to all Californians.”
From April 1-15, 205,685 consumers – including a one-day record of
more than 50,000 on the final day – completed their applications and selected
health plans through the Covered California exchange, bringing the total to 1,395,929 at the end of the historic, first open
enrollment period. The total exceeds
the base projection for Covered California for the entire six-month enrollment
period by more than 815,929.
Of those enrolled in Covered California plans, 1,222,320, or 88
percent, are eligible for financial subsidies to help cover the cost of their
health insurance premiums.
Medi-Cal
enrolled approximately 1.9 million people through the end of March, including
1.1 million through the Covered California portal and county offices,
approximately 650,000 former Low Income Health Program (LIHP) members who were
transitioned to Medi-Cal by DHCS, and 180,000 individuals who applied through
the state’s Express Lane program.
“When we began this journey last
October, our goal was to help Californians get quality, affordable health care
coverage,” said DHCS Director Toby Douglas.
“With the help of our county partners, Covered California and thousands
of concerned citizens and organizations who contributed, we’ve made incredible
progress toward our goal in just six short months. We’re excited about the
opportunities ahead for even more individuals who now have the opportunity to
get coverage through Medi-Cal and Covered California.”
Enrollment among
Latinos and among Californians 18 to 34 years old had a strong finish.
Additionally, Covered California more than doubled its base projection for
Asian enrollment and has met the base projection for African-American
enrollment. Lee said insurance companies are reporting that 85 percent of all
enrollees have paid their first month’s premium.
Latino enrollment
now stands at 305,106 or 28 percent of the total enrollment. From the end of
March to April 13, Latino enrollment increased at a rate of 30 percent, and has
cleared the base projection of 265,000.
Enrollment
of young adults 18 to 34 years old finished at 29 percent of the consumers who
have selected a Covered California health insurance plan. This age group
represents about 25 percent of the state’s population but approximately 36
percent of those who are eligible for subsidies. Also, about 36 percent
of those newly enrolled in Medi-Cal are young adults 18 to 34 years old.
Lee
praised his staff and partners for helping consumers “cross the finish line”
after Covered California’s decision to allow consumers who had difficulty
accessing the enrollment portal on March 31 to complete their applications by
April 15.
During the
six-month period, 41 percent of all consumers self-enrolled for coverage
through the Covered California website. Certified Insurance Agents enrolled 39
percent of all consumers, while Covered California Certified Enrollment
Counselors and Service Center Representatives each enrolled about 9 percent.
Of the subsidy-eligible consumers who enrolled in the exchange through April 15, 809,085, or about 58 percent of the total, signed up for a Silver plan, the second-least expensive plan of the four metal tiers. About 88 percent of consumers across all tiers received some sort of financial assistance.
Enrollment in
Covered California private health insurance plans hit 1,221,727 through March
31. March was the highest single month of enrollment, with more than 416,000
people signing up for a health insurance plan.
In Covered California’s Small Business Health Options
Program (SHOP), 1,156 small businesses — representing about 4,900 employees and
their dependents — have enrolled for coverage through March 31. Enrollment in
SHOP is available year round.
Although the
open-enrollment deadline has passed for Covered California health insurance
plans, enrollment in Medi-Cal continues year-round. Individuals who would like
their eligibility determined for low-cost or no-cost Medi-Cal can apply at www.CoveredCA.com.
Monthly
Enrollment Statistics
|
Oct. 1 - March
31*
|
|
Applications
|
Individuals
|
|
Total number of
electronic applications initiated including Medi-Cal
|
3,518,366
|
6,333,058**
|
Completed
applications through Covered California including Medi-Cal
|
2,661,407
|
5,098,460
|
Individuals
determined to be eligible
for enrollment in Covered California |
2,656,799
|
|
Enrollments in a
Covered California
health plan |
1,395,929
|
|
Subsidized enrollments
(those eligible for federal premium assistance, cost-sharing reduction) in a
Covered California health plan
|
1,222,320
|
|
Non-subsidized
enrollments in a Covered California health plan
|
173,609
|
|
**Estimated,
based on an average of 1.8 individuals per application.
|
||
Total Enrollment Oct. 1 - March 31*
|
||
Subsidy-Eligible
|
Unsubsidized
|
Total
|
1,222,320
|
173,609
|
1,395,929
|
Age of
Individuals Enrolled: Oct. 1 to March 31*
Age
|
Subsidy
Eligible
|
Unsubsidized
|
Total
|
|||
Less
Than 18
|
49,867
|
4.08%
|
28,096
|
16.18%
|
77,963
|
5.59%
|
18
to 25
|
145,968
|
11.94%
|
15,794
|
9.10%
|
161,762
|
11.59%
|
26
to 34
|
204,601
|
16.74%
|
36,465
|
21.00%
|
241,066
|
17.27%
|
35
to 44
|
205,999
|
16.85%
|
32,802
|
18.89%
|
238,801
|
17.11%
|
45
to 54
|
306,859
|
25.10%
|
31,580
|
18.19%
|
338,439
|
24.24%
|
55
to 64
|
308,163
|
25.21%
|
28,362
|
16.34%
|
336,525
|
24.11%
|
65
and Older
|
863
|
0.07%
|
510
|
0.29%
|
1,373
|
0.10%
|
Grand Total
|
1,222,320
|
173,609
|
1,395,929
|
|||
Race of
Individuals Enrolled***: Oct. 1 to March 31*
Race
|
Subsidy
Eligible
|
Unsubsidized
|
Total
|
Base Projection for 3/31/2014
|
|||
White
|
317,311
|
33.50%
|
69,190
|
48.27%
|
386,501
|
35.44%
|
194,000
|
Latino
|
280,025
|
29.56%
|
25,081
|
17.50%
|
305,106
|
27.98%
|
265,000
|
Asian
|
208,357
|
22.00%
|
21,995
|
15.35%
|
230,352
|
21.12%
|
83,000
|
Black or
African-American |
26,038
|
2.75%
|
4,736
|
3.30%
|
30,774
|
2.82%
|
22,000
|
Mixed
Race
|
50,101
|
5.29%
|
12,175
|
8.49%
|
62,276
|
5.71%
|
16,000
|
American
Indian
and Alaska Native |
2,496
|
0.26%
|
144
|
0.10%
|
2,640
|
0.24%
|
|
Native
Hawaiian and
other Pacific Islander |
2,237
|
0.24%
|
339
|
0.24%
|
2,576
|
0.24%
|
|
Other
|
26,305
|
2.78%
|
3,980
|
2.78%
|
30,285
|
2.78%
|
|
Unknown
Race, Non-Latino
|
34,412
|
3.63%
|
5,686
|
3.97%
|
40,098
|
3.68%
|
|
Grand Total
|
947,282
|
143,326
|
1,090,608
|
||||
***Excludes 305,321 non-respondents.
Language of Individuals Enrolled****: Oct. 1 to March 31*
Language
|
Subsidy
Eligible
|
Unsubsidized
|
Total
|
|||
English
|
882,424
|
78.92%
|
152,740
|
95.44%
|
1,035,164
|
80.99%
|
Spanish
|
146,452
|
13.10%
|
4,251
|
2.66%
|
150,703
|
11.79%
|
Asian and Pacific
Islander Languages
|
86,358
|
7.72%
|
2,873
|
1.80%
|
89,231
|
6.98%
|
Indo-European
Languages
|
2,913
|
0.26%
|
176
|
0.11%
|
3,089
|
0.24%
|
Grand Total
|
1,118,147
|
160,040
|
1,278,187
|
|||
**** Excludes 117,742
non-respondents.
Metal Level of
Individuals Enrolled: Oct. 1 to March 31*
Metal
Level
|
Subsidy
Eligible
|
Unsubsidized
|
Total
|
|||
Minimum Coverage
|
6,534
|
0.53%
|
13,160
|
7.58%
|
19,694
|
1.41%
|
Bronze
|
297,448
|
24.33%
|
61,880
|
35.64%
|
359,328
|
25.74%
|
Silver
|
809,085
|
66.19%
|
51,722
|
29.79%
|
860,807
|
61.67%
|
Gold
|
61,507
|
5.03%
|
21,851
|
12.59%
|
83,358
|
5.97%
|
Platinum
|
47,746
|
3.91%
|
24,996
|
14.40%
|
72,742
|
5.21%
|
Grand Total
|
1,222,320
|
173,609
|
1,395,929
|
|||
Carrier Selected of Individuals Enrolled: Oct. 1 to March
31*
Carrier
|
Subsidy
Eligible
|
Unsubsidized
|
Total
|
|||
Anthem
Blue Cross
of California |
369,077
|
30.19%
|
55,981
|
32.25%
|
425,058
|
30.45%
|
Blue
Shield of California
|
332,681
|
27.22%
|
48,776
|
28.10%
|
381,457
|
27.33%
|
Chinese
Community
Health Plan |
13,381
|
1.09%
|
925
|
0.53%
|
14,306
|
1.02%
|
Contra
Costa Health Plan
|
976
|
0.08%
|
115
|
0.07%
|
1,091
|
0.08%
|
Health
Net
|
237,701
|
19.45%
|
26,378
|
15.19%
|
264,079
|
18.92%
|
Kaiser
Permanente
|
210,179
|
17.20%
|
30,919
|
17.81%
|
241,098
|
17.27%
|
L.A.
Care Health Plan
|
32,396
|
2.65%
|
5,728
|
3.30%
|
38,124
|
2.73%
|
Molina Healthcare
|
10,625
|
0.87%
|
1,106
|
0.64%
|
11,731
|
0.84%
|
Sharp Health Plan
|
10,455
|
0.86%
|
2,632
|
1.52%
|
13,087
|
0.94%
|
Valley Health Plan
|
1,647
|
0.13%
|
244
|
0.14%
|
1,891
|
0.14%
|
Western Health Advantage
|
3,202
|
0.26%
|
805
|
0.46%
|
4,007
|
0.29%
|
Grand Total
|
1,222,320
|
173,609
|
1,395,929
|
|||
*Data includes individuals
who finished their applications and selected plans through April 15, 2014.
Covered California is the state’s marketplace for the
federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Covered California, in
partnership with the California Department of Health Care Services, was charged
with creating a new health insurance marketplace in which individuals and small
businesses can get access to affordable health insurance plans. With coverage
starting in 2014, Covered California helps individuals determine whether they
are eligible for premium assistance that is available on a sliding-scale basis
to reduce insurance costs or whether they are eligible for low-cost or no-cost
Medi-Cal. Consumers can then compare health insurance plans and choose the plan
that works best for their health needs and budget. Small businesses can
purchase competitively priced health insurance plans and offer their employees
the ability to choose from an array of plans and may qualify for federal tax
credits.
Covered California is an independent part of the state
government whose job is to make the new market work for California’s consumers.
It is overseen by a five-member board appointed by the Governor and the Legislature.
For more information on Covered California, please visit www.CoveredCA.com.
About the Department of Health Care Services
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) works to
preserve and improve the physical and mental health of all Californians. DHCS
provides health care services for approximately 9.4 million Californians
through Medi-Cal, including medical, dental, mental health, substance use
treatment services and long-term services and supports. This is accomplished
through an investment of approximately $70 billion annually in public funds for
the care of low-income families, children, pregnant women, seniors and persons
with disabilities. DHCS focuses on delivering quality, effective services
primarily through coordinated systems of care provided by 21 Medi-Cal managed
care plans located in all of California’s 58 counties. For more information
about DHCS, please visit www.dhcs.ca.gov.