Enrollments Nearly Double Initial Projections
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California™ and the California Department of Health Care
Services (DHCS) announced today that from Oct. 1, 2013, to Feb. 28, 2014, under
the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 61,474 consumers in six Central
Coast counties enrolled in subsidized and non-subsidized Covered California
health insurance plans. The new total represents a 20.5 percent increase from
the 50,985 enrollments recorded through Jan. 31. An additional 60,132 have been
determined likely eligible for Medi-Cal in the six-county area.
The five-month Covered California total also represents 189
percent of the base projection of 32,602
enrollments the agency estimated for the region during the entire six-month
enrollment period, which ends March 31 (see the table attached). Enrollment in
Medi-Cal is year round.
The impressive
pace of enrollments in the Central Coast is due in part to enhanced aspects of
Covered California’s customer service. The agency has increased staff to answer consumer calls, added phone lines, improved
its website efficiency, expanded its live Web chat function and upgraded its
Spanish-language Web pages. DHCS is continuing its work with counties and
Covered California to process the vast number of applications and quickly
deliver health coverage to all who are eligible.
The Central Coast
counties of Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara
and Ventura represent about 7 percent of the statewide enrollment. The local
total includes 54,338 consumers eligible for financial subsidies. These
counties encompass Covered California pricing regions 9 and 12. For Medi-Cal,
these six counties represent 5 percent of those deemed likely eligible for
Medi-Cal coverage.
For the five-month period ending Feb. 28, 880,082 consumers
enrolled in plans statewide. The total
increased to 923,832 through March 9. Covered California also announced on
Monday that it had enrolled more than 1 million consumers as of March 14.
Tables and graphics
showing enrollment by metal tier and health insurance plan in all regions are available
online at www.CoveredCA.com/news/PDFs/regional-stats-feb/Feb_Regional_Tables.pdf and www.CoveredCA.com/news/PDFs/regional-stats-feb/feb_regional_pies_charts.pdf.
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.
About the Department of Health Care Services
The Department of Health Care
Services (DHCS) works to preserve and improve the physical and mental health of
all Californians. DHCS provides health care services for approximately 9.4
million Californians through Medi-Cal, including medical, dental, mental
health, substance use treatment services and long-term services and supports.
This is accomplished through an investment of approximately $70 billion
annually in public funds for the care of low-income families, children,
pregnant women, seniors and persons with disabilities. DHCS focuses on
delivering quality, effective services primarily through coordinated systems of
care provided by 21 Medi-Cal managed care plans located in all of California’s
58 counties. For more information about DHCS, please visit www.dhcs.ca.gov.
Total Five-Month Enrollment Compared
with Six-Month Base Projection
with Six-Month Base Projection
|
Base
Projection*
for 3/31/2014 |
Total Enrolled
(with plan selection) on 2/28/2014 |
Difference
from Base Projection for 3/31/14 |
Performance
as of 2/28/2014 (% of 3/31/14 base projection) |
|
|
Geographic Regions
|
||||
|
Greater Bay Area
|
89,599
|
194,879
|
105,280
|
218%
|
|
Sacramento
|
28,726
|
45,998
|
17,272
|
160%
|
|
Central Coast
|
32,602
|
61,474
|
28,872
|
189%
|
|
Los Angeles
|
177,602
|
241,312
|
63,710
|
136%
|
|
Specific Counties
|
||||
|
Fresno
|
14,500
|
13,534
|
(966)
|
93%
|
|
Orange
|
44,392
|
87,170
|
42,778
|
196%
|
|
San Diego
|
43,054
|
76,875
|
33,821
|
179%
|
|
San Bernardino
|
35,692
|
30,584
|
(5,108)
|
86%
|
|
Riverside
|
40,377
|
41,756
|
1,379
|
103%
|
|
Statewide
|
||||
|
Total
|
580,000
|
880,082
|
300,082
|
152%
|
|
*Covered California
projections based on available information, including CalSIM 1.8 data.
|
||||
