- More than 320,000 consumers have newly enrolled since Nov. 1 — a similar pace to last year.
- Research conducted in December indicates the Affordable Care Act (ACA) debate at the national level is a concern for consumers, but is not keeping them from enrolling.
- Affordability continues to be the main perceived barrier to getting coverage.
- Most have a positive feeling about Covered California.
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“As we continue working to enroll consumers in Covered California, it’s heartening to see that they continue to place great faith in our brand and are getting the financial help essential to getting and keeping health coverage for those who need it,” Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee said. “While people are worried, the uncertainty is not preventing them from enrolling or renewing in coverage for 2017.”
The study, titled “An Integrated Quantitative and Qualitative Study on Post-Election Attitudes Toward Enrolling in and Renewing Health Insurance Coverage,” was conducted between Dec. 14, 2016, and Jan. 3, 2017, to evaluate whether to adjust Covered California’s marketing and outreach messaging. The qualitative and quantitative research, which included focus-group testing and an online survey of 500 respondents, was conducted by Greenberg Strategy, an Emeryville-based research and strategy consultancy with clients around the world.
Among the findings:
- Concerns about affordability and costs rising far outweigh concerns about the future of the ACA.
- Consumers say if they could afford coverage, they would sign up for it.
- Ninety percent of consumers think subsidies will continue to be available in 2017.
- The belief that the ACA will be cancelled is not associated with hesitation to enroll or renew.
“Subsidies to help consumers buy health insurance on the exchange are critical to making coverage affordable to many people in California,” Lee said. “Because those subsidies are available, more than a million customers are able to buy health coverage they can afford.”
As of June 2016, policyholders have benefitted from an average of $440 per month in financial assistance, and nearly 90 percent of Covered California members receive some level of financial help.
“Consistent with what we have seen in the last four years, affordability is still the barrier, especially for those who remain uninsured,” Lee said. “Any policy changes coming from Washington D.C. need to continue to address consumers’ core concerns about affordability.”
According to the research, consumers have a lot of trust in the Covered California brand, with a “willingness to believe that California will save the day, and an openness to and trust in the idea that Covered California will be part of the solution.”
- “Right now, I feel California is looking out for us, and we can’t trust what’s going on in D.C.” — Focus-group participant, uninsured.
- “I don't think California will let us down. We moved here for a government that takes care of its people.” — Survey respondent, insured through Covered California.
“We recognize that the discussion in Washington can be unsettling, but those without insurance should not hesitate to enroll in coverage if they can afford it,” he said. “Purchasing insurance can give them access to health care almost immediately, which can be life-changing.”
The complete study can be found here: http://www.coveredca.com/news/pdfs/CC_Current_Sentiment_Topline_012417_FINAL.pdf.
Open enrollment continues through Jan. 31, 2017.
Consumers interested in enrolling online can do so on CoveredCA.com. They can also get free and confidential in-person assistance, in a variety of languages, by clicking on “Free Local Help to Enroll.” They can find a nearby enroller or have a certified enroller contact them through the “Help on Demand” feature. Consumers can also enroll over the phone by calling Covered California at (800) 300-1506.
About Covered California
Covered California is the state’s health insurance marketplace, where Californians can find affordable, high-quality insurance from top insurance companies. Covered California is the only place where individuals who qualify can get financial assistance on a sliding scale to reduce premium costs. Consumers can then compare health insurance plans and choose the plan that works best for their health needs and budget. Depending on their income, some consumers may qualify for the low-cost or no-cost Medi-Cal program.
Covered California is an independent part of the state government whose job is to make the health insurance marketplace 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.
