Special enrollment in virus crisis

Covered California has reopened its enrollment to anyone who is uninsured and eligible for coverage. The special enrollment period, announced March 20, comes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The signup period runs through June 30. "Having more people insured is the right thing to do, and this action builds on our efforts to leave no one behind in California," Covered California chief Peter Lee said. Health insurance would ... (More)

New Covered Cal signups up 41%

Covered California posted a dramatic surge in signups during its open enrollment for the year 2020. The increase for new health plans was put at 41 percent more than the numbers for 2019. Covered California credited "new state policies," notably including the return of an "individual mandate" that penalizes those who do not have health coverage. The federal penalty was removed for 2019, inspiring California to institute its own ... (More)

Covered Cal signups top 2019

More than 318,000 consumers have initiated health insurance via Covered California during the current open-enrollment period, which runs through Jan. 31. The new signup number already has surpassed the 2019 open-enrollment total of 295,000. "Thousands are signing up every day and we're not done yet," said Covered California chief Peter Lee. "Californians have until midnight on January 31st to sign up and not only avoid paying a ... (More)

AG vows to fight ACA court ruling

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has vowed to fight a federal court's ruling that penalties for not having health insurance are unconstitutional. The ruling came via a lawsuit designed to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The Dec. 18 decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the so-called individual mandate previously used by Obamacare was an unconstitutional tax. President Trump succeeded in removing the ... (More)

Jan. 1 coverage deadline extended

Reacting to "a strong surge in enrollment," Covered California has extended the deadline for coverage to begin Jan. 1. Consumers now have through Friday, Dec. 20, to have their coverage go into effect with the coming of the new year. "Open enrollment is full-steam ahead, and this year's enrollment period is more important than before," Covered California chief Peter Lee (pictured) said Dec. 16 in announcing the ... (More)