Covered California has begun its open enrollment period. To date, an estimated 1.2 million people in the state are currently uninsured amid the COVID-19 pandemic, despite being eligible for financial help through either Covered California or Medi-Cal.
The open enrollment period began Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 31, but people must be registered by Dec. 15 for their health insurance to take effect on Jan. 1.
“Those who are hospitalized because of COVID, and do not have health insurance and the special cost-sharing protections that have been put in place for COVID, could walk out with very large bill,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly secretary of the state’s Health and Human Services Agency and Covered California board chair.
Covered California, in partnership with the California Department of Health Care Services, helps people determine whether they are eligible for premium assistance that is available on a sliding-scale basis to reduce insurance costs or whether they are eligible for low-cost or no-cost Medi-Cal.
Covered California is the state’s marketplace for the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
