Peter's Blog: Bus Tour, Day Six

In the Inland Empire, 116,000 people have enrolled in a health plan through Covered California. That number is thanks to partners like the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce (RCBCC). We held an event Tuesday morning at the RCBCC, and were pleased to find a big crowd of supportive partners who drive the effort to get the African-American community enrolled.

We visited the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015.

Making our way through the Inland Empire, we paid a visit to HealthStar Insurance Services, where we lauded insurance agents for their great success in signing up Ontario residents. We made two stops in Pomona: the first at Pomona Community Health Center, a non-profit health center providing primary and preventive care – as well as Covered California enrollment help – to those in need in the Los Angeles and San Bernardino areas. After that, Ortiz & Associates welcomed us in downtown Pomona. The husband and wife team of Alicia and Roberto Ortiz are the dynamic duo behind this insurance agency, where hundreds have signed up for a health plan through Covered California. All their employees are bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish. Ortiz & Associates estimates that 90% of their clients are Latino. For many of their clients, this is the first time they have signed up for health insurance in their lives.

ChapCare's Enrollment Shop in Pasadena, Calif. is one of more than 500 

Covered California enrollment storefronts statewide.

While we are thrilled that more than 100,000 Inland Empire residents have signed up for a health plan through Covered California, we know there is still a long way to go in getting care to those without insurance in this region. An estimated 268,000 of California’s uninsured live in the Inland Empire. The two other stops we made today -- ChapCare's Enrollment Shop in Pasadena and Clinicas del Camino Real in Ventura -- are demonstrating how easy it is to enroll by providing in-person help at a variety of convenient locations. 

The Spotlight on Coverage Bus Tour stopped at Clinicas del Camino Real
in Ventura, Calif. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015.

Here is where we will be today as the Spotlight on Coverage Bus Tour continues:

1. 10:00 a.m.: Twin Cities Community Hospital (1100 Las Tablas Road, Templeton, CA 93465).
2. 1:00 p.m.: Omni Family Health (4600 Panama Lane, Bakersfield, CA 93313).
3. 4:00 p.m.: Jagdeep Singh Insurance Agency (4185 W. Fig Garden Drive, Fresno, CA 93722).