Exchange Reminds Consumers of Deadlines for Getting Health Insurance and Avoiding Penalty
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — With health care coverage through
Covered California™ set to
begin for thousands of people on Jan. 1, the state’s health benefit exchange announced
expanded Service Center hours and outlined some key dates for consumers.
Covered California’s Service Center, at (800) 300-1506, will
now be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22, to help consumers enroll.
The agency also wants to remind consumers that it extended the deadline for enrolling in plans and paying for coverage beginning Jan. 1. If a consumer chooses a plan by Dec. 23, 2013, and the insurance company receives payment by Jan. 6, 2014, coverage will be retroactive on Jan. 1, 2014. Additional deadlines are listed below.
Enrollment Deadline
|
Payment Received Deadline
|
Coverage Begins
|
Dec. 23, 2013
|
Jan. 6, 2014
|
Jan. 1, 2014
|
Jan. 15, 2014
|
Jan. 28, 2014
|
Feb. 1, 2014
|
Feb. 15, 2014
|
Feb. 25, 2014
|
March 1, 2014
|
March 15, 2014
|
March 26, 2014
|
April 1, 2014
|
Open
enrollment ends March 31, 2014.
For answers to frequently asked questions about enrollment deadlines and payment dates, visit https://www.coveredca.com/FAQs/Enrollment-and-Payment-FAQs-FINAL.pdf
The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
requires most people to enroll by March 31, 2014, or face a tax penalty. If consumers
enroll between March 16 and March 31, their coverage will begin on May 1, 2014.
People applying for health insurance through Covered
California will find out if they qualify for financial help with premium
payments or if they are eligible for low-cost or no-cost insurance through
Medi-Cal. Signing up for health insurance will also give Californians
the peace of mind that comes with medical coverage.
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.
