- “Covered in Art” bus tour will travel 1,300 miles and make stops in cities across California over six days to promote enrollment in health insurance.
- Local artists will paint permanent murals at community clinics and other locations across the state to promote health and wellness and attract attention to places where Californians can enroll.
- Californians will be encouraged to visit CoveredCA.com and check out their options because prices for some may be lower this year.
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Covered California on Tuesday concluded a six-day, statewide bus tour to enroll consumers in health insurance, visiting San Jose and Oakland to feature a comprehensive marketing and outreach campaign and showcase local muralists to promote health and wellness.
“We’ve launched this 22-stop bus tour and our statewide advertising with ads to make sure everyone in California knows there are quality health insurance options available now for 2018,” said Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California. “While there’s uncertainty in Washington, the Affordable Care Act is the law of the land and financial help is bringing care within reach for millions whether you live in San Jose, Oakland or any community in and around the greater Bay Area.”
Open enrollment in California, which started on Nov. 1 and will run through Jan. 31, 2018, is the one time of year when anyone who needs health insurance can enroll without having to meet special qualifying conditions. Consumers should enroll by Dec. 15 for coverage starting Jan. 1, 2018. (Open enrollment in many other states will end after 45 days on Dec. 15).
The “Covered in Art” bus tour has made stops at locations throughout the state where local artists will paint murals to attract attention to enrollment locations and promote health and wellness. At least twelve murals will be painted on locations in communities across the state.
“The ‘Covered in Art’ project is a living demonstration of the fact that health care is local and that Covered California is woven into the fabric of local communities,” Lee said.
The Covered California bus is stopping in San Jose Cruz Tuesday afternoon at PHP Insurance Services on Tully Road, and later in Oakland it will visit the East Oakland Youth Development Center on International Boulevard.
In San Jose, artist Franceska Gamez will create a 20-feet by 8-feet mural at PHP Insurance Services. The mural’s theme, “Health Brings Peace of Heart and Happiness” is representative of how health and wellness is important to all, from the beginning of life till the end. Gamez believes that health care is life changing, and the peaceful nature of the piece reflects the importance of health care.
Born in the capital of the Philippines, Gamez immigrated to the U.S. in 1997 and was raised in the Bay Area. She currently resides in Sacramento where she practices in mixed media sculptures and painting. Upon receiving her degree in Fine Art at California State University Sacramento, she has continued to dedicate full time to her trade. Her artwork reflects her Philippine heritage and upbringing.
Gamez has been commissioned to create public works by the California Faculty Association, Greenpeace DC, The California Auto Museum, and more recently, Asian American Women Artists Association as well as the California Rice Commission.
In Oakland, artists Max Martilla and Arrington West will create two 10-by-20 foot murals on adjoining walls at the East Oakland Youth Development Center. The murals’ theme “Health & Wellness for Oakland” is inspired by the many students that the East Oakland Youth Development Center serves.
The mural incorporates images of EOYDC’s students promoting health and wellness, by making them look like they are actively painting the mural and playing basketball through the lettering.
Both Martilla and West are Bay Area artists. Born and raised in San Francisco, Martilla graduated with his Bachelors in Fine Arts from the Art Institute in San Francisco in 2011. He currently works with Precita Eyes Muralists, and teaches youth through their Urban Youth Arts program.
West is the Creative Director of the newly established group Black Mail; a collective of African American artists working to remind San Francisco about the emotions, experiences, and perceptions about life that are embedded in artists’ work.
“Part of Covered California’s tradition is multi-cultural, multi-lingual marketing and outreach in diverse communities across the state to promote enrollment, and make sure everyone in the state knows there’s help to buy health insurance,” Lee said.
San Jose and Oakland are the final stops for the bus – which began its journey Nov. 1 in Southern California. All told, the Covered California bus will travel more than 1,300 miles.
“Covered California is not standing still,” Lee said. “For the first time, consumers can find resources on our website and even enroll on their cell phones. In addition, we have new tools that make it easier to shop and easier to find resources in other languages.”
Research commissioned by Covered California shows that many people still don’t know there’s financial help to buy health insurance, and those concerned about the future of health exchanges are less inclined to enroll. But Lee said Covered California is solid for 2018.
The art tour is being supplemented by a new statewide advertising campaign, with the message “Life can change in an instant,” to drive home the message that anyone can find themselves suddenly needing health insurance. The advertising campaign, which includes ads in English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese, can be viewed here: https://vimeopro.com/coveredcanews/instant-tv.
“We want consumers to know we’re offering the same quality coverage we’ve offered since we opened our doors in 2014,” Lee said. “Don’t let the distant thunder in Washington keep you from getting the financial help available to buy health insurance. Covered California is here for you today and will be here for you tomorrow.”
Covered California’s open enrollment period will continue through Jan. 31, 2018. While open enrollment continues through the end of January, consumers should sign up by Dec. 15 to have coverage starting January of 2018. Consumers interested in learning more about their options should go to CoveredCA.com where they can shop to explore their options or get free in-person assistance in the area where they live. In addition, consumers can call the Covered California service center to enroll 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.
