News Release

Date Posted

Central Valley Enrollment Figures Through Feb. 28 Released by Covered California and Department of Health Care Services

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — With iconic labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta as an honored guest and partner, Covered California™ and the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced today that from Oct. 1, 2013, to Feb. 28, 2014, an estimated 64,189 consumers in nine Central Valley counties enrolled in subsidized and non-subsidized Covered California health insurance plans. The new total represents a 24.5 percent increase from the 51,524 enrollments recorded through Jan. 31, 2014.

Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers, joined Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee at an enrollment event in Stockton, where both encouraged San Joaquin Valley residents to enroll in affordable, quality health care coverage.

“We’ve made significant progress in the Central Valley to enroll consumers in the health care coverage they want and need,” Lee said. “Communities throughout this region are responding to our message that health care is a right all Californians should enjoy. However, we still have lots of work to do to help tens of thousands of uninsured Central Valley residents get covered before the end of open enrollment on March 31.”

Although Covered California enrollment ends March 31, enrollment in Medi-Cal is year round.

Huerta, while encouraging all Californians to enroll, had a special message for Latinos, who represent 46 percent of an estimated 2.6 million consumers statewide who are eligible to receive financial aid to help them pay for health insurance under the historic Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

On March 13, Covered California announced that 880,082 consumers statewide had enrolled for exchange health plans through Feb. 28, and the total increased to 923,832 through March 9. Covered California also announced today that it had enrolled more than 1 million consumers as of March 14.

The Central Valley counties of San Joaquin, Kern, Stanislaus, Merced, Mariposa, Tulare, Fresno, Kings and Madera represent about 7 percent of the statewide enrollment through Feb. 28. The local total includes 58,820 consumers eligible for financial subsidies. These counties encompass Covered California pricing regions 10, 11 and 14.

During the event in Stockton, co-sponsored by the social services organization El Concilio, Lee and Huerta said the improving pace of enrollments in the Central Valley 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.

Covered California recently launched a targeted, grassroots, on-the-ground strategy in collaboration with its community partners to create face-to-face opportunities for enrollment, particularly in Latino communities in the Central Valley and the San Joaquin Valley (Stockton/Modesto and Fresno/Bakersfield).

Covered California enlisted the help of Huerta to produce radio spots and videos available on YouTube, in English and Spanish, calling on Latinos to sign up for insurance.

Since December, the exchange has nearly doubled its advertising campaign targeting Spanish- and English-speaking Latinos, improved its Spanish-language website and informational materials, and increased the number of bilingual Certified Enrollment Counselors and Service Center representatives.

Tables and graphics showing enrollment by metal tier and health insurance plan in the Central Valley region are available at the end of this press release.

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.

Region 10 — San Joaquin Valley
Individuals Enrolled in October through February
in Region 10, with Subsidy Status, Across Metal Level

Subsidy Eligible
Unsubsidized
Grand Total
Total
% of Total
Total
% of Total
Total
% of Total
Minimum Coverage
90
0.3%
255
8.8%
345
0.9%
Bronze
6,480
19.0%
1,046
35.9%
7,526
20.4%
Silver
24,426
71.7%
859
29.5%
25,285
68.4%
Gold
1,740
5.1%
369
12.7%
2,109
5.7%
Platinum
1,330
3.9%
385
13.2%
1,715
4.6%
Grand Total
34,066
100%
2,914
100%
36,980
100%

Individuals Enrolled in October through February
in Region 10, with Subsidy Status, Across Issuer *

Subsidy Eligible
Unsubsidized
Grand Total
Total
% of Total
Total
% of Total
Total
% of Total
Anthem Blue Cross of California
22,738
66.8%
1,730
59.4%
24,468
66.2%
Blue Shield of California
4,379
12.9%
331
11.4%
4,710
12.7%
Health Net
503
1.5%
122
4.2%
625
1.7%
Kaiser Permanente
6,444
18.9%
731
25.1%
7,175
19.4%
Grand Total
34,064
100%
2,914
100%
36,978
100%
* Total may not add up to total for enrollments across metal level due to reconciliation of data.

Region 11 — Central San Joaquin
Individuals Enrolled in October through February
in Region 11, with Subsidy Status, Across Metal Level

Subsidy Eligible
Unsubsidized
Grand Total
Total
% of Total
Total
% of Total
Total
% of Total
Minimum Coverage
50
0.3%
91
6.1%
141
0.8%
Bronze
3,381
21.7%
494
33.4%
3,875
22.7%
Silver
11,030
70.7%
500
33.8%
11,530
67.5%
Gold
637
4.1%
155
10.5%
792
4.6%
Platinum
506
3.2%
241
16.3%
747
4.4%
Grand Total
15,604
100%
1,481
100%
17,085
100%
Individuals Enrolled in October through February
in Region 11, with Subsidy Status, Across Issuer *

Subsidy Eligible
Unsubsidized
Grand Total
Total
% of Total
Total
% of Total
Total
% of Total
Anthem Blue Cross of California
6,983
44.8%
763
53.3%
7,746
45.5%
Blue Shield of California
6,381
40.9%
397
27.7%
6,778
39.8%
Kaiser Permanente
2,240
14.4%
271
18.9%
2,511
14.7%
Grand Total
15,604
100%
1,431
100%
17,035
100%
* Total may not add up to total for enrollments across metal level due to reconciliation of data.


Region 14 — Kern County
Individuals Enrolled in October through February
in Region 14, with Subsidy Status, Across Metal Level

Subsidy Eligible
Unsubsidized
Grand Total
Total
% of Total
Total
% of Total
Total
% of Total
Minimum Coverage
41
0.4%
88
9.0%
129
1.3%
Bronze
1,899
20.8%
324
33.3%
2,223
22.0%
Silver
6,363
69.5%
236
24.2%
6,599
65.2%
Gold
479
5.2%
135
13.9%
614
6.1%
Platinum
368
4.0%
191
19.6%
559
5.5%
Grand Total
9,150
100%
974
100%
10,124
100%

Individuals Enrolled in October through February
in Region 14, with Subsidy Status, Across Issuer*

Subsidy Eligible
Unsubsidized
Grand Total
Total
% of Total
Total
% of Total
Total
% of Total
Anthem Blue Cross of California
3,117
34.1%
443
45.5%
3,560
35.2%
Blue Shield of California
4,531
49.5%
266
27.3%
4,797
47.4%
Health Net
401
4.4%
105
10.8%
506
5.0%
Kaiser Permanente
1,098
12.0%
160
16.4%
1,258
12.4%
Grand Total
9,147
100%
974
100%
10,121
100%
* Total may not add up to total for enrollments across metal level due to reconciliation of data.