With Deadline Approaching, Grassroots Campaign, Community Leaders Urge Consumers to Enroll Now
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California™ and the California
Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced today that from Oct. 1,
2013, to Feb. 28, 2014, 241,312
consumers in Los Angeles County enrolled in subsidized and unsubsidized Covered
California health insurance plans. The new total represents a 22 percent increase from the 198,158
enrollments recorded through Jan. 31. An additional 366,353 county residents
have been determined likely eligible for Medi-Cal.
The five-month Covered California total represents 136 percent
of the base projection of 177,602 enrollments the agency estimated for the
county during the entire six-month enrollment period, which ends March 31 (see the
table attached). Enrollment in Medi-Cal is year round.
“We’re making solid gains in Los Angeles County, as the word
is spreading and consumers are taking advantage of the great opportunity to
protect themselves and their families,” Covered California Executive
Director
Peter V. Lee said. “A lot of credit goes to our partners and community leaders,
respected and trusted members of their communities who’ve encouraged people to
sign up.
“But we’re not done. Tens of
thousands of consumers are still eligible for quality, affordable insurance in
our exchange, and we want to get them enrolled before March 31.”
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.
Covered California
enlisted the help of iconic labor leader Dolores Huerta, co-founder of United
Farm Workers, to produce radio spots and videos available on YouTube, in
English and Spanish, calling on
Latinos to sign up for insurance. Huerta also has appeared at local events in
Los Angeles and Stockton in recent weeks to help spread the word about enrollment.
While the last day
of enrollment for Covered California health insurance plans is March 31, the
exchange is calling on consumers to sign up as quickly as possible to avoid the expected
last-minute rush of applications that could slow the online experience.
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.
Additionally, almost
1.5 million individuals statewide have been enrolled in Medi-Cal through Feb.
28. This includes individuals who applied through the Covered California Web
portal and county human service agencies, as well as approximately 650,000
former Low Income Health Program (LIHP) members transitioned to Medi-Cal by
DHCS and 134,000 individuals who applied through the state’s Express Lane
program.
Los Angeles County, which encompasses Covered California
pricing regions 15 and 16, represents 27 percent of the 880,082 consumers
enrolled in health insurance plans through Feb. 28. The county makes up 31
percent of those eligible statewide to enroll in the Covered California health
insurance marketplace. For Medi-Cal, the 366,353 likely eligible consumers in
Los Angeles County represent 32 percent of all individuals deemed likely
eligible for enrollment.
Other highlights for Los Angeles County in Covered
California enrollment figures:
- A total of 207,586 enrollees, or 86 percent, are eligible for financial subsidies.
- A total of 223,735 consumers, or 93 percent, chose one of the four health insurance carriers that have traditionally been the largest in the individual market: Blue Shield of California, Anthem Blue Cross of California, Kaiser Permanente and Health Net.
- For the individuals who were eligible for subsidies, the great majority (71 percent) selected the Silver level of benefits, which is the level at which the federal premium assistance is targeted. Those who are not eligible for subsidies were more likely to buy across the spectrum of levels of coverage.
The figures on enrollment do not reflect whether
individuals have paid their premiums or started coverage. This information will
be available in future reporting.
Lee also reminded consumers of the many paths they can take
to enroll in Covered California health insurance plans and in Medi-Cal,
including meeting in person with thousands of trained Certified Insurance
Agents, Certified Enrollment Counselors and county eligibility workers, who can
provide assistance with completing applications. Spanish-language assistance is
available online at www.CoveredCA.com/espanol.
Both the English and Spanish Covered California websites
can locate the nearest person who can provide assistance. Additionally,
self-enrollment is available online, and enrollment can be completed over the
phone by calling Covered California’s Service Center at (800) 300-1506.
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.
|
||||
