Vice President Joe Biden Highlights California's Ground-Level Efforts to Enroll the Uninsured During Open Enrollment

Biden Joined Enrollment Leaders Monday to Encourage Californians to Enroll By Feb. 15

LOS ANGELES — At a round-table meeting in Los Angeles on Friday, Vice President Joe Biden praised efforts to enroll the uninsured in coverage under the Affordable Care Act and said California’s ground-level efforts are working because enrollment is being promoted by people who are trusted in their communities.

“California figured out early on that people are going to enroll in health care because of what they hear from people who they know and who they trust,” the Vice President said.
Biden made his remarks at Homegirl Cafe on Friday, where he met with Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee, Congressman Xavier Becerra and leaders of organizations actively promoting enrollment, including Visión y Compromiso, Chapcare, Community Health Council, California State University and The California Endowment.

“We so appreciate Vice President Biden driving home the importance of the thousands of people on the ground in communities across the state who are enrolling people, and that he realizes how important it is to get people signed up by Feb. 15,” Lee said.

While at the event, the Vice President joined California’s “I'm In” campaign promoting enrollment and noted that “the most important voice in promoting enrollment is friends and family telling those they know.” In addition, the Vice President especially encouraged Latinos and young people to use resources in their community or apply for coverage online before Feb. 15.

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. 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 about Covered California, please visit www.CoveredCA.com.