There are over 100,000 people in Northern California who could obtain insurance through Covered California, but have not yet done so.
Member of the Assembly Jim Wood urged uninsured residents to sign up for health insurance during Covered California’s 10th Open Enrollment, the time of year residents can sign up for health insurance. Around 22,000 people have already registered for Assembly District 2that Wood represents.
“I encourage everyone Northern California residents to learn more about their health care options and…enroll today,” Wood said.
The state health insurance marketplace, Covered California, was created after the Affordable Care Act was passed federally in 2010. It had its first enrollment period open in 2013 and made lower the rate of uninsured residents from 17.2% to 7% in 2021, according to a press release from Covered California.
Meanwhile, the statement indicates the number of people enrolled in a health insurance plan in Northern California
increased by 42%, from 42,810 registered in 2014 to 60,720 registered in 2021.
The plans have been made even more affordable and accessible during the pandemic thanks to federal subsidies through the US bailout. Wood helped ensure that these subsidies would continue after the pandemic and would continue to provide plans with generous premium subsidies and low or no copayments. This was made possible by funding from the Inflation Reduction Act passed about a year ago.
“But new data shows there are more than a million uninsured Californians who are eligible for financial assistance that could bring the cost of coverage within reach,” said Jessica Altman, executive director of Covered California. “Of this group, it is estimated that more than half are able to obtain quality coverage through Covered California or MediCal at no cost and the remainder are eligible for significant financial assistance that will reduce the cost of their monthly insurance premiums. sickness.”
About 90% of enrollees are eligible for financial aid, saving on average about $479 per month, Altman said. Two-thirds are eligible for coverage for $10 or less per month.
Anyone interested in getting coverage can explore their options at CoveredCA.com by entering their household income, postal code, household size and number of people to be covered, as well as their age.
Free support is available by phone in a variety of languages from certified enrollers at 800-300-1506.
Sonia Waraich can be reached at 707-441-0504.
