Covered California is known for moving signup deadlines, but here’s a first: Enrollment for 2021 has been extended until Dec. 30. Coverage begins two days later.
The deadline had been Dec. 15. Consumers who sign up by Dec. 30 will need to pay their first bill in order to have their coverage take effect on Jan. 1, however.
Covered California chief Peter Lee said, “The pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on all of our lives, and Covered California wants to give those who need health insurance as much time as possible to sign up and get coverage that starts on Jan. 1.”
The state Obamacare operation added: “More than 1.2 million Californians are uninsured right now, even though they are eligible for financial help from Covered California, or low-cost or no-cost coverage through Medi-Cal.”
Covered California said consumers should ignore TV, radio and print ads that communicate the Dec. 15 deadline.
The agency said it has begun to see high phone-call volumes and is encouraging consumers to act now and not wait until the end of the month to sign up.
Those who miss the deadline still will have some time to sign up for 2021 coverage, but it won’t begin Jan. 1.
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