News Release

Date Posted

Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee Applauds National Effort To Enroll 2.2 Million Americans In Health Care

California Continues Remarkable Pace, Enrolling Nearly 500,000 Californians

Sacramento, Calif. — Covered California™ Executive Director Peter V. Lee released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ announcement today that nearly 2.2 million Americans — including nearly 500,000 Californians — have signed up for health care during the first three months of open enrollment.

“It’s clear by the response that Californians and Americans throughout this nation were more than ready for the affordable and quality health insurance offered through the Affordable Care Act,” said Lee. “With nearly half a million Californians enrolling in a plan over three months, we continue to see high interest from consumers. But we’re not done. Open enrollment continues through March, and Covered California is here to help consumers enroll in the coverage they deserve.”

Covered California expects to release more specific enrollment data later this month, including enrollments by region, age, ethnicity and language.

It’s not too late to enroll. Covered California urges Californians to visit www.CoveredCA.com today and enroll in health coverage. The deadline is Wednesday to enroll in coverage that starts Feb. 1. The last day to enroll for coverage for this year is March 31, 2014.

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.