Signups soar for state health insurance plans
Nearly 124,000 people have signed up for medical insurance through Covered California since March 20 as the state grapples with the coronavirus pandemic and startling unemployment numbers.
According to the state health care marketplace, 123,810 people have sought insurance during Covered California’s special openenrollment period. The exchange is generally open from Oct. 15 to Jan. 31, but it extended the period amid the crisis.
“When the worst is happening in people’s personal economic lives, we want to make sure that Californians know they can have the peace of mind that comes with quality health care coverage,” Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee said in a statement. “Whether Californians have lost jobbased health insurance cover
age, or they were uninsured when this pandemic began, our doors are wide open to help them get coverage through either Covered California or MediCal.”
MediCal, which covers 13 million Californians and is offered through Covered California, put a 90day hold on renewal reviews last month, so people can automatically continue coverage.
Under Covered California, people have access to private health insurance plans with monthly premiums that may be subsidized, and coverage begins the first of the month after a person chooses a plan.
Californians previously could sign up for health insurance through the marketplace outside of the annual openenrollment period because of a “qualifying life event,” such as losing coverage, moving, getting married or having a baby. The special enrollment period, which extends through the end of June, is available to people who were unaware of available premium subsidies or the new state penalty for not having health insurance.
Covered California said people can find out online or by phone whether they are eligible for financial help or nocost coverage through MediCal.
All Covered California and MediCal health plans include nocharge telehealth options for COVID19 screening, which allow people to speak to a medical professional via phone or video chat, so they don’t have to go to a doctor’s office or hospital. The coverage includes free coronavirus testing as well as visits to emergency rooms or urgent care for screening or testing.
“In this time of social distancing, people should know that health insurance is only a phone call away,” Lee said. “Consumers can get free and confidential assistance from certified agents or one of Covered California’s trained professionals while remaining safe and protecting themselves and their families.”