Covered California’s First Deadline Approaches as Winter Illnesses Highlight the Importance of Having Access to Quality Health Care

 

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — With Californians facing the compounding impact of three respiratory illnesses this winter, Covered California is urging the uninsured to sign up for health care coverage before the upcoming Dec. 31 deadline. Coverage provides access to quality care and protection from unforeseen medical costs, and Covered California is where people can get financial help to lower the cost of their health insurance. Californians need to sign up before the end of the year in order to have their coverage be effective on Jan. 1.

“Everyone deserves the protection and peace of mind that come with having high-quality, affordable health insurance, and Covered California is urging everyone who needs coverage to check out their options and sign up before the end of the year,” said Jessica Altman, executive director of Covered California. “Once again — whether it is COVID, the flu, RSV or other illnesses — access to health care coverage is essential for every Californian to stay healthy and safe.”

What You Need to Know

Since the start of the pandemic, California’s health officials have been concerned that COVID-19 and influenza cases may peak at the same time. In addition to those two illnesses, California is also seeing a rise in the number of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) cases, which can hit younger children especially hard.

“We have seen dramatic increases in COVID-19, the flu and RSV, reminding us once again of the importance of our health and wellbeing,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, California Health and Human Services secretary and Covered California board chair. “Californians have just a few days left to sign up for a comprehensive health care coverage plan through Covered California that will protect themselves and their family starting on Jan. 1.”

Californians who sign up by Dec. 31 and pay their first bill will have their health insurance take effect on Jan. 1. Covered California’s open-enrollment period runs through Jan. 31, but coverage will not begin until Feb. 1 if a consumer signs up in January.

Significant Savings for More Than 1 Million Uninsured Californians

An estimated 1 million Californians do not have health insurance and are eligible for financial help to bring the cost of coverage within reach. Of that group, at least 55 percent — or about 568,000 people — could get quality coverage through Covered California or Medi-Cal at no cost.

Right now, 90 percent of Covered California’s enrollees qualify for the increased financial help available through the Inflation Reduction Act. As a result, two-thirds of Covered California’s consumers are eligible for comprehensive health insurance at a cost of $10 or less per month.

“Regardless of your income, if you need health insurance or even if you’re covered directly through a health insurance company, come to Covered California to see if you can get financial help to make your coverage more affordable,” Altman said.

Under the expanded financial help now available, a 21-year-old in Los Angeles who earns $27,000 a year could get a quality Silver 87 plan — which features low copays and deductibles — for $36 a month. Or they could get a Bronze plan at no cost.

A couple in Oakland earning $45,775 a year could save nearly $700 a month off the cost of their Silver 73 plan, or get a comprehensive Bronze plan at no cost.

Finally, a Sacramento couple earning $83,250 a year could save more than $16,000 a year on quality coverage for themselves and their two children, or they could get a Bronze plan for $67 per month.

New Opportunity for 400,000 Californians to Enroll in More-Affordable Coverage

A new rule that went into effect just this month will help 391,000 Californians get access to more-affordable coverage if they have a family member with an offer of employer-sponsored insurance (ESI). Previously, these families were ineligible for federal subsidies, and they were forced to either spend a significant amount of their income on health insurance premiums or go uninsured. Now they are eligible for financial help through Covered California that will lower the cost of their coverage.

The example below depicts a family of four with an annual household income of $50,000 who pays $800 a month for their coverage, or nearly 20 percent of their income.

The new rule takes the affordability threshold (9.12 percent in 2023), which had previously been applied only to the employee, and now extends it to the entire family. In this case, while the cost of the employee’s coverage is below the threshold, the cost to cover the family is no longer considered affordable. As a result, the employee’s spouse and children are now eligible for financial help and would save $425 a month — or $5,100 a year — by enrolling in a Covered California plan.

“The new rule means that families that were either forced to spend a significant amount of their income to be a part of their loved one’s health plan, or go uninsured, can now get more-affordable coverage through Covered California,” Altman said.

In order to determine whether Californians can benefit from the new rule, Covered California unveiled a new affordability tool and worksheet earlier this month, which can help people see if they or their family members qualify for financial help. The affordability tool and worksheet are also available in Spanish.

In addition to the tool, consumers can also contact an agent or certified enroller, visit our support page or use Covered California’s Help on Demand service to have an enroller contact them within 15 minutes.

About Covered California

Covered California is the state’s health insurance marketplace, where Californians can find affordable, high-quality insurance from top insurance companies. Covered California is the only place where individuals who qualify can get financial assistance on a sliding scale to reduce premium costs. Consumers can then compare health insurance plans and choose the plan that works best for their health needs and budget. Depending on their income, some consumers may qualify for the low-cost or no-cost Medi-Cal program.

Covered California is an independent part of the state government whose job is to make the health insurance marketplace work for California’s consumers. It is overseen by a five-member board appointed by the governor and the Legislature. For more information about Covered California, please visit www.CoveredCA.com.