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 extension.
Getting covered for the full year is more important in 2020, with the return of the so-called individual mandate, which President Trump did away with on the federal level. The state Franchise Tax Board becomes the heavy next year, collecting a fine at tax time for those without coverage.
(The federal individual mandate was ruled unconstitutional by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday. The debate is expected to reach the Supreme Court. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra vowed to fight the individual mandate decision.)
Lee continued to promo the up side, pointing to California’s extension of subsidized health care to the middle class:
“California will be making history this year, becoming the first state in the nation to make coverage more affordable for middle-income people like small-businesses owners and entrepreneurs,” Lee said. “If you have checked Covered California out before, check again, because you could be eligible for new financial help that will lower the cost of your coverage by hundreds of dollars a month.”
California’s open-enrollment period continues through Jan. 31, but those who enroll after Dec. 20 will have their coverage begin Feb. 1. Covered California has a history of extended signup deadlines, to help consumers and to get bonus media coverage.
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