- California’s uninsured rate drops to 7.1 percent.
- Rate is down from 17 percent in 2013, before the Affordable Care Act.
- California’s uninsured rate is falling faster than the national average.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A new survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that California’s uninsured rate has fallen to a new record low of 7.1 percent, which is significantly lower than the 17 percent the CDC found in 2013.
“Covered California is proud to be part of the effort that is helping millions of people get the coverage and care they need,” said Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee. “From expanding Medi-Cal to launching a competitive state-based marketplace, California is empowering consumers and providing quality and value.”
The CDC survey, which covered January to September 2016, also showed a dramatic improvement when compared to national averages.
Prior to the Affordable Care Act, California’s uninsured rate for all ages was higher than the national average, 17 percent compared to 14.4 percent. Since that time, California has fallen below the national average and is dropping at a significantly faster pace. The CDC says the difference between the two rates was one percentage point at the end of 2015. The difference between the two rates has now increased to 1.7 percentage points, 7.1 percent in California compared to 8.8 percent nationally.
Covered California noted that this data does not include the recent open enrollment period that closed on Jan. 31 — during which more than 412,000 Californians signed up for coverage.
Now that open enrollment has ended, Covered California has begun new marketing focused on enrolling those who are eligible to sign up now due to changes in their life circumstances, such as losing their health care coverage, getting married, having a child or moving.
For more information on special-enrollment rules, visit: www.CoveredCA.com/individuals-and-families/getting-covered/special-enrollment.
Consumers who qualify for Medi-Cal may enroll through Covered California year round.
For more information, consumers should visit CoveredCA.com, where they can enroll online or get information about obtaining free, confidential in-person assistance in a variety of languages. They can find a certified enroller at a storefront in their area 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.
The full CDC survey can be viewed here: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/insur201702.pdf.
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.
