Peter's Blog: Bus Tour, Day Eleven

From San Diego to Eureka, the Spotlight on Coverage Bus Tour has touched California from top to bottom. Tuesday’s travels took us to the inland northern California cities of Redding, Chico and Yuba City.

Redding’s Mercy Medical Center is one of the hospitals that is helping consumers by both providing quality care and helping them sign up for coverage. The hospital’s Trauma Center saw a reduction from 15 percent of patients before Covered California not having health insurance, down to 3 percent of patients without insurance this year. Certified Insurance Agent Mike Littau, of Farmers Insurance in Redding, spoke of how just a few years ago his agency struggled to find an affordable health plan for people who came in who needed coverage. Today, he is happy to have enrolled hundreds of people in affordable Covered California health plans, including dozens since the latest open-enrollment period began on Nov. 1, 2015.

Continuing down the state, we stopped at Lynn Bowers Insurance Agency in Chico. With more locations in Paradise, Oroville, Gridley, Corning, Durham and Orland, Lynn Bowers Insurance Agency makes signing up convenient for Butte County residents. Consumers can also enjoy the flexibility of getting a quote or more information by phone, email or in-person office visits.




Ampla Health’s Yuba City location was the third stop of the day. With 13 medical centers and six dental centers, Ampla is well situated to meet the health needs of this region. They began in 1964 as a medical care project for migrant farm workers. Fifty-one years later, Ampla continues to connect those in need with health care by helping people get enrolled with a health plan through Covered California.

The Spotlight on Coverage bus is taking the day off for Veterans Day. Catch up with us when we visit Sacramento on Thursday, Nov. 12:

1. 11:00 a.m. -- Sacramento Covered (8928 Volunteer Lane #220, Sacramento, CA 95826).
2. 12:30 p.m. -- La Familia Counseling Center, Inc. (5523 34th Street, Sacramento, CA 95820).
3. 1:15 p.m. -- Faneuil Call Center (7405 Greenhaven Drive, Sacramento, CA 95831).
4. 3:00 p.m. -- Covered California Service Center (10877 White Rock Road, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670).
5. 4:00 p.m. -- California State Capitol (10th and L Streets, Sacramento, CA 95814).