News Release

Date Posted

Northern California Enrollment Figures through March 31 Released by Covered California and Department of Health Care Services

Enrollment Data for All Counties Now Available

ACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California™ and the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced today that from Oct. 1, 2013, to March 31, 2014*, under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 49,665 consumers in mostly rural Northern California counties enrolled in subsidized and non-subsidized Covered California health insurance plans. The new total represents a nearly 50 percent increase from the 33,111 enrollments recorded through Feb. 28.
The open-enrollment period for health insurance plans in Covered California’s marketplace ended March 31. Although open enrollment has ended, consumers who experience a qualifying life event can still enroll in a health insurance plan through Covered California.


Qualifying life events include losing health coverage through a job, getting married or entering into a domestic partnership, having or adopting a child, changing where a person permanently lives or gaining citizenship. For a list of common types of qualifying events, visit www.CoveredCA.com.
The next open-enrollment period will be in the fall of 2014. Also, Californians can enroll in Medi-Cal year-round.


The Northern California counties of Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tuolumne and Yuba represent about 4 percent of the statewide enrollment. The local total includes 45,042 consumers eligible for financial subsidies. These counties encompass Covered California pricing region 1.

For the six-month period that ended March 31, 1,395,929 consumers enrolled in plans statewide. The statewide total increased 58.6 percent from the 880,082 consumers who enrolled by the end of Feb. 28. Covered California reached 1 million consumers enrolled on March 14.

Tables and graphics showing enrollment in Covered California health insurance plans by county and by metal tier and health insurance company in all regions are available online at www.CoveredCA.com/news/PDFs/regional-stats-march/March_RegionalEnrollmentTables_forWeb_ss.pdf and www.CoveredCA.com/news/PDFs/regional-stats-march/march-regionals-graphics.pdf.
* Enrollment data include individuals who finished their applications and selected plans through April 15, 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.


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.