SACRAMENTO, Calif. — With the famous Olvera Street in Los Angeles
as the backdrop, Covered California™ and the California Department of Health
Care Services (DHCS) announced today that more than 3 million Californians have
signed up for health coverage through Covered California or Medi-Cal since Oct.
1. During the mid-day multicultural rally, officials from Covered California
and DHCS encouraged all consumers, particularly those who don’t qualify for
Medi-Cal, to enroll as soon as possible in health insurance coverage, to beat
the expected last-minute rush of applications.
The number of consumers selecting a Covered California health insurance
plan reached 880,082 by the end of February — including 762,174 consumers who
are eligible for subsidies. The five-month enrollment figure exceeds by more than 300,000 the base projection
for Covered California for the entire six-month enrollment period, which ends
March 31.
The surge continues this month, with total enrollment in Covered
California health insurance plans reaching 923,832 through March 9.
Additionally,
1,136,000 exchange applicants were determined to be likely eligible for
Medi-Cal coverage. This number reflects new Medi-Cal applicants as well as some
ongoing caseload eligibility activity that is conducted via the Covered
California Web portal.
“We are rolling toward a strong finish, but we’re here to
encourage consumers to not wait until March 31 to join the millions of
Californians who have already found their pathway to affordable coverage, and enroll
today,” said Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee, referring to the
end of the inaugural open-enrollment period under the historic Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act. “We’re building momentum on many fronts:
among Latinos, among young people and in communities throughout the state.
Californians’ desire for health insurance to protect themselves and their
families is building on friends telling friends and family telling family.”
Lee said insurance companies are reporting that 85 percent of all
enrollees have paid their first month’s premium.
In addition to the 1,136,000 applicants determined likely eligible
for Medi-Cal coverage through the Covered California Web portal, 968,500
individuals have already enrolled for Medi-Cal coverage. They include approximately
650,000 former Low Income Health Program (LIHP) members transitioned to
Medi-Cal by DHCS, 134,000 individuals who applied through the state’s Express
Lane program and another 184,500 individuals enrolled directly through county
human services agencies, which play a critical role in the processing and
approval of all Medi-Cal applications, including those received through Covered
California.
“It is evident by this tremendous response that many
Californians have long been waiting for this kind of opportunity to get quality
health care coverage,” said DHCS Director Toby Douglas. “We’re grateful for the
tremendous efforts of our county partners, and we look forward to continuing
our year-round enrollment work that makes health coverage possible for more
Californians.”
February saw a continued increase in the number of Latinos
enrolled — from 119,835 at the end of January to 153,561 through the end of
February. DHCS also reported strong Latino participation among those found
likely to be eligible for Medi-Cal enrollment. Through Feb. 28, 431,680 of
those found likely eligible for Medi-Cal coverage, or 38 percent,
self-identified as Latino.
“The word is spreading among Latinos about this important
opportunity to get quality health care, and they are responding in growing
numbers,” Lee said. “While it is good news that almost 600,000 Latinos have
found coverage under the Affordable Care Act, we recognize we have a way to go
toward insuring larger numbers of Latinos and Californians in the coming weeks.
It’s both a short-term and a long-term, multi-year effort to change the mindset
of the uninsured from a culture of coping into a culture of coverage.
“We won’t quit reaching out until all who want
and need insurance are covered,” Lee said.
Covered California has been pushing hard in Latino communities,
with heightened advertising, education and outreach, and enrollment campaigns.
Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers, joined Lee at
the Olvera Street rally to encourage Latinos to enroll today in coverage. Last
week, Covered California enlisted the help of the iconic labor and civil rights
leader to produce radio spots and videos available on YouTube, in English and
Spanish, calling on Latinos to sign up for insurance.
Covered California is planning nearly 650 enrollment activities in communities throughout the
state in the final weeks before the deadline. A targeted on-the-ground strategy
is under way in collaboration with Covered California’s community partners to
create face-to-face opportunities for enrollment, particularly in Latino
communities in Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, and the Central and San Joaquin
valleys.
Through March 7, online applications were started for an estimated
3,787,569 individuals seeking coverage. In the month of February, 164,870
individuals
enrolled in subsidized or unsubsidized coverage through Covered California.
Enrollment
of young adults 18 to 34 years old is trending slightly upward, at 26.5 percent
of the consumers who have selected a Covered California health insurance plan.
This age group represents about 25 percent of the state’s population but
approximately 36 percent of those who are eligible for subsidies. Also,
about 35 percent of those newly enrolled in Medi-Cal are young adults 18 to 34
years old.
Most subsidy-eligible consumers who enrolled in the
exchange through Feb. 28 — 515,027, or about 68 percent — signed up for a
Silver plan, the second-lowest-costing plan of the four plan tiers. About 86
percent of consumers across all tiers received some sort of financial assistance.
In Covered California’s Small Business Health Options
Program (SHOP), 1,073 small businesses — representing nearly 8,188 employees
and their dependents — have enrolled for coverage through Feb. 28.
Consumers are reminded that there are many paths to enroll
in Covered California health insurance plans and in Medi-Cal, including
in-person assistance from thousands of Certified Insurance Agents, Certified
Enrollment Counselors and county eligibility workers, as well as
self-enrollment online. Consumers can find the nearest in-person assisters by
visiting the “Find Local Help” page at CoveredCA.com.
Though open enrollment for Covered California
health plans ends March 31, Californians who experience a life-changing event,
including the birth of a child or the loss of employer-provided insurance, may
qualify to enroll outside of the open-enrollment period. Medi-Cal enrollment
continues year round.
Here’s a sample of what people were
saying through Covered California’s social media channels in February:
“Had
to take my 5-year-old to the ER in the middle of the night. For all the issues
with the ACA, I am so grateful she was insured. Would have been thousands of
dollars. This is what insurance is about ... the catastrophic unexpected. Thank
you ACA.”
— Lisa (via Facebook)
— Anonymous (via
Twitter)
“@CoveredCA Loving my new Heath coverage, Way to go
California.”
— Anonymous (via Twitter)
“Just
paid my first premium for @CoveredCA healthcare. A 42% reduction for a
nearly-identical plan. #ThanksObama.”
— Anonymous (via Twitter)
Monthly
Enrollment Statistics
|
Oct. 1 - Feb. 28
|
|
Applications
|
Individuals
|
|
Total number of
electronic applications initiated including Medi-Cal
|
2,104,205
|
3,787,569*
|
Completed
applications through Covered California including Medi-Cal
|
1,542,783
|
2,947,863
|
Individuals
determined to be eligible
for enrollment in Covered California |
1,634,435
|
|
Enrollments in a
Covered California
health plan |
880,082
|
|
Subsidized
enrollments (those eligible for federal premium assistance, cost-sharing
reduction) in a Covered California health plan
|
762,174
|
|
Non-subsidized
enrollments in a Covered California health plan
|
117,908
|
|
Medi-Cal applicants
through Covered California**
(Includes
individuals who are pending,
eligible and conditionally eligible coming in through Covered California) |
1,136,000
|
|
Medi-Cal
transitions from
Low Income Health Program (LIHP) |
650,000
|
|
Medi-Cal
enrollments through
the state’s Express Lane program |
134,000
|
|
Medi-Cal
enrollments through
county human services agencies |
184,500
|
|
* Estimated, based on an average of 1.8
individuals per application.
**
Does not include applicants for current Medi-Cal coverage through county
human services agencies, which are shown in a separate row. This category may
also include some individuals counted in other categories above.
|
||
Total Enrollment Oct. 1 - Feb. 28
|
||
Subsidy-Eligible
|
Unsubsidized
|
Total
|
762,174
|
117,908
|
880,082
|
Age of
Individuals Enrolled: Oct. 1 to Feb. 28
Age
|
Subsidy Eligible
|
Unsubsidized
|
Total
|
|||
Less
Than 18
|
35,383
|
4.6%
|
21,152
|
17.9%
|
56,535
|
6.4%
|
18
to 25
|
84,678
|
11.1%
|
9,785
|
8.3%
|
94,463
|
10.7%
|
26
to 34
|
116,420
|
15.3%
|
22,582
|
19.2%
|
139,002
|
15.8%
|
35
to 44
|
123,636
|
16.2%
|
21,543
|
18.3%
|
145,179
|
16.5%
|
45
to 54
|
190,016
|
24.9%
|
21,404
|
18.2%
|
211,420
|
24.0%
|
55
to 64
|
211,728
|
27.8%
|
21,179
|
18.0%
|
232,907
|
26.5%
|
65
and Older
|
313
|
0.0%
|
263
|
0.2%
|
576
|
0.1%
|
Grand Total
|
762,174
|
117,908
|
880,082
|
|||
Race of
Individuals Enrolled*: Oct. 1 to Feb. 28
Race
|
Subsidy
Eligible
|
Unsubsidized
|
Total
|
Base Projection for 3/31/2014
|
|||
White
|
226,010
|
37.5%
|
50,053
|
51.9%
|
276,063
|
39.5%
|
194,000
|
Latino
|
139,508
|
23.1%
|
14,053
|
14.6%
|
153,561
|
22.0%
|
265,000
|
Asian
|
145,523
|
24.1%
|
14,747
|
15.3%
|
160,270
|
22.9%
|
83,000
|
Black or
African-American |
15,432
|
2.6%
|
2,865
|
3.0%
|
18,297
|
2.6%
|
22,000
|
Mixed
Race
|
32,974
|
5.5%
|
8,016
|
8.3%
|
40,990
|
5.9%
|
16,000
|
American
Indian
and Alaska Native |
1,581
|
0.3%
|
89
|
0.1%
|
1,670
|
0.2%
|
|
Native
Hawaiian and
other Pacific Islander |
1,370
|
0.2%
|
217
|
0.2%
|
1,587
|
0.2%
|
|
Other
|
17,310
|
2.9%
|
2,530
|
2.6%
|
19,840
|
2.8%
|
|
Unknown
Race, Non-Latino
|
22,995
|
3.8%
|
3,843
|
4.0%
|
26,838
|
3.8%
|
|
Grand Total
|
602,703
|
96,413
|
699,116
|
||||
* Excludes 180,966 non-respondents.
Language
|
Subsidy
Eligible
|
Unsubsidized
|
Total
|
|||
English
|
566,933
|
81.4%
|
103,901
|
96.5%
|
670,834
|
83.4%
|
Spanish
|
63,927
|
9.2%
|
1,748
|
1.6%
|
65,675
|
8.2%
|
Asian and Pacific
Islander Languages
|
63,506
|
9.1%
|
1,949
|
1.8%
|
65,455
|
8.1%
|
Indo-European
Languages
|
1,850
|
0.3%
|
89
|
0.1%
|
1,939
|
0.2%
|
Grand Total
|
696,216
|
107,687
|
803,903
|
|||
* Excludes 76,179
non-respondents.
Metal Level of
Individuals Enrolled: Oct. 1 to Feb. 28
Metal
Level
|
Subsidy
Eligible
|
Unsubsidized
|
Total
|
|||
Minimum Coverage
|
3,260
|
0.4%
|
6,694
|
5.7%
|
9,954
|
1.1%
|
Bronze
|
163,468
|
21.4%
|
39,378
|
33.4%
|
202,846
|
23.0%
|
Silver
|
515,027
|
67.6%
|
34,765
|
29.5%
|
549,792
|
62.5%
|
Gold
|
43,878
|
5.8%
|
16,793
|
14.2%
|
60,671
|
6.9%
|
Platinum
|
36,541
|
4.8%
|
20,278
|
17.2%
|
56,819
|
6.5%
|
Grand Total
|
762,174
|
117,908
|
880,082
|
|||
Carrier Selected of Individuals Enrolled: Oct. 1 to Feb.
28
Carrier
|
Subsidy
Eligible
|
Unsubsidized
|
Total
|
|||
Anthem
Blue Cross
of California |
231,996
|
30.4%
|
36,208
|
30.7%
|
268,204
|
30.5%
|
Blue
Shield of California
|
220,858
|
29.0%
|
35,767
|
30.3%
|
256,625
|
29.2%
|
Chinese
Community
Health Plan |
9,122
|
1.2%
|
601
|
0.5%
|
9,723
|
1.1%
|
Contra
Costa Health Plan
|
699
|
0.1%
|
75
|
0.1%
|
774
|
0.1%
|
Health
Net
|
136,020
|
17.8%
|
18,870
|
16.0%
|
154,890
|
17.6%
|
Kaiser
Permanente
|
137,184
|
18.0%
|
21,202
|
18.0%
|
158,386
|
18.0%
|
L.A.
Care Health Plan
|
13,541
|
1.8%
|
2,671
|
2.3%
|
16,212
|
1.8%
|
Molina Healthcare
|
4,234
|
0.6%
|
380
|
0.3%
|
4,614
|
0.5%
|
Sharp Health Plan
|
5,953
|
0.8%
|
1,523
|
1.3%
|
7,476
|
0.8%
|
Valley Health Plan
|
871
|
0.1%
|
147
|
0.1%
|
1,018
|
0.1%
|
Western Health Advantage
|
1,696
|
0.2%
|
464
|
0.4%
|
2,160
|
0.2%
|
Grand Total
|
762,174
|
117,908
|
880,082
|
|||
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.
