SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Covered California continued its “Let’s Talk About Health” campaign today at the Main Library as the 2025 Open Registration Period gets underway.
Regardless of the outcome of the 2024 election, open enrollment will continue and coverage through Affordable Care Act marketplaces across the country, including Covered California, will remain unaffected in 2025.
“Our doors are open and now is the time for Californians to get health insurance,” said Jessica Altman, executive director of Covered California. “The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act remains the law of the land, and the election results will not affect the financial support available to enrollees through federal aid and enhanced state aid next year. The largest amount of financial assistance ever provided to Californians to help pay for health insurance remains available in 2025.”
Open Enrollment (starting November 1 and running through January 31, 2025) is a period during which Californians can sign up for, renew, or purchase a new health insurance plan. Since Covered California launched in 2014, more than 5.9 million Californians have purchased health insurance through Covered California, including nearly 1.8 million currently enrolled.
this is 12th This is the open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act, which has helped provide health insurance to tens of millions of Americans, but now provides financial assistance to consumers through the Control of Inflation Act. is increasing and expanding. California’s enhanced cost-sharing reduction program will become available to all eligible California enrollees in 2025, making premiums even more affordable for Californians.
“California is taking full advantage of the Affordable Care Act by providing coverage and access to quality care to more Californians,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. . “Reducing out-of-pocket costs for millions of Californians is an important step toward building a healthier California for everyone.”
Covered California begins this open enrollment with record enrollment and lowest uninsured rate in state history. The “Let’s Talk Health” campaign aims to simplify the process of obtaining insurance and remove known barriers for remaining uninsured Californians, including those newly eligible for coverage in California. Focus on health literacy.
In 2025, more Californians than ever before will have coverage due to increased federal premium subsidies, California’s Affordable Care Program, and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. will qualify for the largest amount of financial aid ever offered through Covered California.
Record financial support for Californians in 2025
California’s cost-sharing reduction program has been strengthened by Governor Newsom and the California Legislature for 2025, increasing the amount of available state funding to $165 million. As a result, all Californians with incomes above 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($30,120 for one person and $62,400 for a family of four) are eligible to enroll in the Enhanced Silver 73 plan, which offers reduced out-of-pocket costs with no deductions. It will be done. Meanwhile, people who make less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level will continue to receive higher levels of benefits.
In 2024, the program lowered generic drug costs and out-of-pocket costs for medical visits, and reduced other out-of-pocket costs for more than 800,000 eligible California consumers. . These benefits are now available to all enrollees above 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
“California’s cost-sharing reduction program enhancements will give many consumers more affordable options and the ability to shop, compare, and choose the plan that’s best for them and their families,” Altman said. There is a need.” “We also want all uninsured Californians to know that we are working to make health care more affordable and easier to access. This change will further reduce financial barriers to accessing health care and simplify the process of purchasing health insurance.”
Uninsured rate hits record low, but more than 1.3 million people remain uninsured
The uninsured rate among Californians is at an all-time low of 6.4 percent, according to the state, which began open enrollment. federal data. Since Covered California’s first open enrollment period began in 2013, California’s uninsured rate has fallen from 17.2 percent to 6.4 percent in 2023, the lowest rate in the nation during the Affordable Care Act. This was the largest decline of any state.
Figure 1: California’s uninsured rate hits record low in 2023[1]
Images are available in PDF format.
Californians continue to buy insurance at a historic pace. In the Greater Bay Area, enrollment has increased more than 7% over the past four years, with more than 330,000 Californians currently insured.
But the latest data from the California Insurance Market Simulation (CalSIM), a model created by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, also shows that large disparities remain between the insured and the uninsured. CalSIM estimates that there are nearly 1.3 million uninsured Californians living across the state who are eligible for Covered California subsidies (591,000 people) or eligible for Medi-Cal insurance (675,000 people). I am estimating.
Figure 2: Nearly 1.3 million uninsured Californians are eligible for financial assistance.
Once insured, the 591,000 uninsured Californians eligible for the subsidy will receive significant financial assistance that will lower their monthly health insurance premiums.
There are more than 171,000 uninsured Californians in the Greater Bay Area who qualify for low-cost Covered California (83,000 people) or free Medi-Cal (88,000 people).
According to a California targeted study, 23 percent of current consumers plan to pay $0 per month in premiums in 2025 if they keep their current plans, up from 20 percent this year. Almost 90% of Covered California enrollees receive financial assistance. Currently, two-thirds of eligible California consumers are eligible for comprehensive health insurance that costs $10 or less per month, and nearly half could qualify for a comprehensive silver plan at that price.
Figure 3: The majority of eligible California consumers are eligible for health insurance that costs less than $10 per month.
Images are available in PDF format.
“Let’s talk about health” literacy campaign
Research shows that many Californians don’t understand what Covered California actually does, how their health insurance works, or how to make the most of their plan benefits. This lack of health literacy can lead to individuals not purchasing health insurance.
To promote health literacy and provide more information to consumers, Covered California’s “Let’s Talk Health” campaign includes a series of new materials that reflect cultural insights and help demystify health insurance and provide basic information. Contains more simplified language to provide information to consumers who have questions about matters. Through a partnership with health literacy expert Dr. David Schillinger, Dean of the University of California, San Francisco, Covered California maximizes evidence-based approaches to support consumer education.
“We want to simplify the complex and confusing so that everyone, regardless of language, ethnicity, geography, or income, can speak the language of health,” Altman said. “This understanding will help all consumers get coverage and start using it.”
If English is your second language, your need for assistance and information about Covered California is even greater. Approximately 2 million Californians have limited English proficiency and are more than twice as likely to be uninsured, according to data from UCLA’s California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).
Covered California then offers resources in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Korean, Vietnamese, and Persian, to provide consumers with digital information options. We have also launched a “Let’s Talk Health” webpage.
Covered California promotes campaigns and expands the range of new educational resources through partnerships with the California State Library and local libraries across California. The library will house newly created linguistically and culturally resonant resources for consumers to ask questions and learn about health insurance and the differences between Medi-Cal, Covered California, and other insurance options. Educational workshops will be held.
“California’s libraries are community anchors that provide information, programs, and community connections to millions of people of all ages,” said California Librarian Greg Lucas. “On behalf of the state’s 1,027 local libraries, the State Library looks forward to working with Covered California to connect consumers with the resources and pathways they need to find the health coverage they deserve.”
Covered California will spread its health literacy message across the state during the recruitment period and host a series of kickoff events at public libraries.
Libraries provide resources to communities across the state, including information on how to obtain health insurance. After visiting the State Library in Sacramento and Fresno City College Library Fresno in late October, I visited the Central Library in Los Angeles last week, the Reading Library yesterday, and the Main Library today. The final kickoff event will be held in San Diego on Friday.
Coverage for DACA recipients
Also, starting Nov. 1, DACA recipients will be able to enroll in eligible California in 2025 due to rule changes by the Biden administration.[2]. It is estimated that there are approximately 40,000 DACA recipients in California who are eligible for compensation. Covered California also has a special enrollment period for DACA recipients.
This will allow you to enroll in December insurance in addition to enrollment in 2025.
Registering for coverage is easy
Consumers can learn more about their options by visiting CoveredCA.com. There, you can easily see if you qualify for financial assistance and see coverage options in your area. If you want to learn more about your coverage options, you can also:
· Get free and confidential phone support in a variety of languages from more than 14,000 certified agencies and community-based organizations across the state. These organizations provide free and confidential support in the consumer’s preferred language or dialect.
· Ask a certified registrar to call you for free assistance.
· Call Covered California at (800) 300-1506.
The deadline to choose a health plan and get coverage for all of 2025 is December 31st.
About Covered California
Covered California is the state’s health insurance marketplace where Californians can find affordable, high-quality coverage from top insurance companies. Covered California is the only place where eligible individuals can receive sliding scale financial assistance to reduce their premiums. Consumers can compare health insurance plans and choose the plan that best fits their health needs and budget. Depending on their income, some consumers may be eligible for low-cost or no-cost Medi-Cal programs.
Covered California is an organization independent of the state government whose mission is to make the health insurance market work for California consumers. It is overseen by a five-member board appointed by the governor and the Legislature. For more information about Covered California, please visit www.CoveredCA.com.
[1] American Community Survey. The survey did not report results for 2020 due to the pandemic.
[2] Covered California is monitoring a pending lawsuit filed by Kansas and 18 other states seeking to block the new rules. Covered California promptly shares updates on any developments and potential impact on consumers and works closely with community partners to ensure widespread awareness. More information available here.
