Exchange Encourages Consumers to Enroll Online
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — With the deadline approaching for
Covered California™ health
insurance coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2014, tens of thousands of new enrollees
are seeking out help and signing up for plans. In fact, preliminary data
indicates that in just the past three days (Dec 16-18), 53,510 people enrolled
by selecting a Covered California health insurance plan. That tops the 30,830
enrollments completed for the entire month of October by nearly 60 percent.
“We’re pleased with the consumer response to getting
affordable health insurance coverage, and our staff is working at top speed to
answer questions and process all the applications, so Californians can enjoy
benefits beginning Jan. 1, 2014,” said Covered California Executive Director Peter
V. Lee. “Because of the extremely high interest, we want consumers to use our
online tools for self-enrollment or visit a Certified Insurance Agent or their
local Certified Enrollment Counselor.”
As consumers rush to beat the Dec. 23, 2013, deadline for
coverage beginning at the first of the year, the exchange is encouraging
Californians to apply for coverage online, the most convenient and fastest way
to enroll.
On Wednesday, Dec. 18, a total of 20,506 enrollments were
received by Covered California, topping Tuesday’s total of 19,351. Monday’s
single-day enrollment number was 13,653.
Responding to high call
volumes, Covered California’s Service Center is extending its hours this
Saturday, to operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Consumers should have ready the following when getting
ready to apply for Covered California health insurance plans:
- The number of people being enrolled in a plan, including the birthdate of each person.
- Social Security numbers for each family member.
- Home ZIP code.
- Projected income for the coverage year. This can be obtained by checking your most recent income tax filings for the adjusted gross income, any applicable dependent tax information and head-of-household status.
- Legal immigration information, such as your immigration number.
- Information about your status as a member of a federally recognized tribe.
While applications
are coming in by the thousands for coverage taking effect Jan. 1, 2014, Lee
reminded consumers, “We at Covered California are committed to helping people
enroll who have started an application before the deadline.”
For consumers who
do not enroll before the Dec. 23 deadline, they have until March 31, 2014, to
sign up for coverage before they are subject to a penalty.
For a complete
list of upcoming key dates and frequently asked questions, visit www.CoveredCA.com.
About Covered California
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.
