How to sign up for health insurance before Covered California’s deadline this week

CONCERNS. >> DEADLINE FOR GETTING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE BY JANUARY 1 IS RAPIDLY APPROACHING. FOR THE FIRST TIME, IF YOU SIGN UP FOR COVERAGE BY DECEMBER 30 THIS WEDNESDAY YOU WILL HAVE COVERAGE STARTING JANUARY 1. DURING THIS, THE CALIFORNIA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS URGING CALIFORNIANS TO SIGN UP FOR HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE. PETER JOINS US LIVE. THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT OF YOUR MORNING TO CHAT WITH US. FIRST OFF, THE DEADLINE IS APPROACHING HERE. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU MISS THIS DEADLINE? >> FIRST, OPEN ENROLLMENT IN CALIFORNIA IS ALL THE WAY UNTIL THE END OF JANUARY, BUT IT BASICALLY MEANS YOU WILL GOING WITH NO INSURANCE AND WE ARE IN A SEARCH WITH THE PANDEMIC RIGHT NOW. IT’S NOT JUST COVID, IT’S CANCER, ITS CAR ACCIDENTS. THAT’S WHY WE ARE REALLY DOUBLING DOWN ON GETTING WORD OUT ABOUT THIS DEADLINE. >> WE TALKED TO YOU I’D SAY ABOUT A MONTH OR MAYBE THREE WEEKS AGO. IT IS AMAZING, YOU HAD SOME NUMBERS OUT, HOW MANY UNINSURED CALIFORNIANS ARE OUT THERE? WE HAVE MILLION CALIFORNIANS. ONE MILLION ARE ELIGIBLE TO SIGN AND THEY ARE STILL ON THE SIDELINES. IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC IT BOGGLES THE MIND. THERE IS ALSO A RECESSION SO PEOPLE JUST THINK THEY CAN AFFORD IT WHICH THEY CAN GO ONLINE AND FIND OUT HOW MUCH FINANCIAL HELP IS THERE. HEALTH CARE FOR MANY IS LIKE $50 A MONTH AND NOW EVEN MIDDLE-CLASS FOLKS MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOMETHING. HOW HINDERED OUR PEOPLE WITH THIS INSURANCE? DO THEY HAVE TO GO TO CERTAIN DOCTORS OR CAN YOU CHOOSE ON YOUR OWN? >> IN THE SACRAMENTO AREA YOU PICK THE HEALTH PLAN IT’S RIGHT FOR YOU. IF YOU WANT KAISER BLUE SHIELD. YOU PICK THE PLAN THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU. YOU’VE GOT BENEFITS THAT ARE THERE AND DESIGNED SO YOU CAN USE YOUR HEALTH CARE. BENEFITS WERE DESIGNED TO BE CONFUSING. WE HAVE DESIGNS THAT FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPL, THE DEDUCTIBLE DOESN’T APPLY FOR MO PEOPLE ANYTHING EXCEPT FOR HOSPITAL CARE. A LITTLE BIT OF A CO-PAY AND YOU ARE IN. THAT’S WHAT WE’VE DEVELOPED. YOU ARE IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT. >> WHEN PEOPLE GO ON TO START SIGNING UP, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE? >> YOU NEED TO KNOW YOUR ZIP CODE, HOW OLD YOU ARE AND YOUR INCOME. YOU CAN FIND OUT IF YOU’RE ELIGIBLE, ASSIGNING IT MIGHT TAKE HALF AN HOUR ONLINE. I’D HATE TO SAY HEALTH INSURANCE CAN STILL BE KIND OF CONFUSING. YOU CAN FIND A LOCAL INSURANCE AGENT RIGH HERE IN THE SACRAMENTO REGION. YOU CAN STAY A HOME, CALL THEM UP. THEY KNOW THE AREA, THEY CAN WALK YOU THROUGH IT. SERVICES WILL BE TOTALLY FREE. TEO: WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME AND LETTING PEO

How to sign up for health insurance before Covered California’s deadline this week

Updated: 12:09 PM PST Dec 28, 2020

Californians without health insurance through their employer have until Wednesday to sign up through Covered California’s open enrollment in time to receive coverage on Jan. 1. Those who sign up have a high chance of receiving financial assistance, as 9 out of every 10 people who enroll through the health insurance marketplace get subsidized insurance, according to the state. That includes an estimated 1.2 million uninsured Californians who are eligible for financial aid through Covered California or who could qualify for low-cost or free coverage through Medi-Cal. More than half of those eligible for subsidies, 650,000, are Latinx, according to the state. Covered California is an extension of the Affordable Care Act that allows people to compare health insurance plans and choose one that fits their budget. The open enrollment period to receive coverage at the beginning of 2021 was extended from Dec. 15 due to the pandemic. If you miss this week’s deadline, you can still sign up through the end of the open enrollment period in January to be covered for 2021. But if you miss this week’s Dec. 30 deadline, you would lose out on coverage for January. Peter Lee, the executive director for Covered California, said that it’s extra risky to go without health insurance for a month with COVID-19 cases surging. “It’s not just COVID, it’s cancer, it’s a car accident,” he said. “That’s why we are really doubling down on getting the word out about this deadline.”Lee said that people may think they can’t afford insurance, but there are a lot of options out there. How to find a health insurance plan? You can use the state’s shop and compare tool by entering your zip code, household income and ages of those who need coverage.Here are the estimated numbers of uninsured Californians who are eligible for financial help: Northern California and Sacramento Valley: 139,000Greater Bay area: 122,000Central Coast: 60,000San Joaquin, Central Valley, Eastern, Kern: 163,000Los Angeles: 338,000Inland Empire: 192,000Orange: 88,000San Diego: 100,000Beware, the state health insurance mandate will return next yearThose who can afford coverage but who don’t buy health insurance could pay a fine when they file their state taxes in 2022, up to $2,250 for a family of four, according to the state.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Californians without health insurance through their employer have until Wednesday to sign up through Covered California’s open enrollment in time to receive coverage on Jan. 1.

Those who sign up have a high chance of receiving financial assistance, as 9 out of every 10 people who enroll through the health insurance marketplace get subsidized insurance, according to the state. That includes an estimated 1.2 million uninsured Californians who are eligible for financial aid through Covered California or who could qualify for low-cost or free coverage through Medi-Cal. More than half of those eligible for subsidies, 650,000, are Latinx, according to the state.

Covered California is an extension of the Affordable Care Act that allows people to compare health insurance plans and choose one that fits their budget. The open enrollment period to receive coverage at the beginning of 2021 was extended from Dec. 15 due to the pandemic. If you miss this week’s deadline, you can still sign up through the end of the open enrollment period in January to be covered for 2021. But if you miss this week’s Dec. 30 deadline, you would lose out on coverage for January.

Peter Lee, the executive director for Covered California, said that it’s extra risky to go without health insurance for a month with COVID-19 cases surging.

“It’s not just COVID, it’s cancer, it’s a car accident,” he said. “That’s why we are really doubling down on getting the word out about this deadline.”

Lee said that people may think they can’t afford insurance, but there are a lot of options out there.

How to find a health insurance plan?

You can use the state’s shop and compare tool by entering your zip code, household income and ages of those who need coverage.

Here are the estimated numbers of uninsured Californians who are eligible for financial help:

• Northern California and Sacramento Valley: 139,000
• Greater Bay area: 122,000
• Central Coast: 60,000
• San Joaquin, Central Valley, Eastern, Kern: 163,000
• Los Angeles: 338,000
• Inland Empire: 192,000
• Orange: 88,000
• San Diego: 100,000

Beware, the state health insurance mandate will return next year

Those who can afford coverage but who don’t buy health insurance could pay a fine when they file their state taxes in 2022, up to $2,250 for a family of four, according to the state.