Certified Enrollment Counselors and Certified Insurance
Agents Will Be Present Every Week Through March 31
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
This Saturday, Covered California™
and the Los Angeles city and county library systems are launching a two-month
series of enrollment events at libraries throughout the Los Angeles area to
help consumers obtain quality and affordable health insurance.
“Libraries are, in many cases, the public square for
California communities — a gathering place where residents share and receive important
information that enhances their lives,” Covered California Executive Director
Peter V. Lee said. “What better place to help consumers protect themselves and
their families by enrolling in Covered
California health insurance plans?”
Beginning Feb. 8, dozens of city and county library
branches across Los Angeles are participating in the enrollment drive. The
enrollment support for consumers is free and totally confidential, and many
consumers will qualify for financial aid to help them pay for insurance
coverage or may be found to be eligible for low-cost or no-cost Medi-Cal.
Lee will host a media availability at 10 a.m. on Saturday
at Panorama City Public Library as part of the launch.
In addition to Los Angeles, enrollment events will be held
at selected libraries across the state every week through March 31 — the end of
open enrollment for Covered California. Consumers will receive free assistance
from trusted community organizations, as well as from Covered California
Certified Enrollment Counselors and Certified Insurance Agents (many of whom
speak both English and Spanish) to help them enroll.
The library locations and event dates and times can be
found here: www.CoveredCA.com/events/.
“We know many people are more comfortable with a
face-to-face discussion,” Lee said. “Many people want to speak with an expert
in person in their own language, rather than over the phone or on the Internet,
when making such a personal decision about health insurance.”
Guided by Covered California, more than 26,000 Certified Enrollment
Counselors, Certified Insurance Agents and eligibility workers in counties
across the state are available to help consumers enroll.
Between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, more than 132,000 residents of Los
Angeles County enrolled in coverage through Covered California.
“We know that for the thousands who have successfully
enrolled, there are others out there who we still need to serve better,” Lee
said. “These events are part of that mission.”
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.
