News Release

Date Posted

Covered California Announces Lease for Fresno Service Center

Center Set to Open in November; Hiring Under Way to Fill 280 Positions by Year’s End

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California™ announced it has signed a lease agreement for its Fresno Service Center location.

California’s new health benefit exchange will employ up to 300 full-time and part-time workers at the center, located at 7201 N. Palm Ave. It is one of three sites statewide for representatives to take phone calls from consumers. Additional positions may be added next year, depending on consumer demand.

Covered California will start moving in and installing technology on Sept. 9. Hiring is under way for the initial wave of 158 jobs, with a six-week employee training program beginning in October. The site will open for business in mid-November.

Projected employment at the Fresno site will be 280 by the end of the year. The state employees will be trained to answer questions about Covered California and to enroll residents in health insurance plans through the exchange, as well as refer some Californians to Medi-Cal.

The 52,000-square-foot building previously was a call center, which will expedite startup of the Service Center. The building has an open-floor design, with generous natural lighting, training rooms, break rooms and a covered outdoor patio. It has ample free parking and is close to bus lines, restaurants and shops.

Two other Covered California Service Centers, in Rancho Cordova and Concord, are set to take general inquiry calls on Aug. 26. By the time the marketplace launches Oct. 1, Covered California expects that 442 Service Center representatives will be working at the two centers and another 253 people will be working as management, back office and quality assurance staff.


About Covered California

Covered California is the state’s marketplace for the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Covered California 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 will help individuals compare health insurance plans and choose the plan that works best for their health needs and budget. A sliding scale of financial subsidies in the form of premium assistance will be available to help reduce costs for people who qualify.

Small businesses will be able to 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.