Center opens at mall to help residents navigate Covered California [The Orange County Register]

Oct. 30--LAGUNA HILLS -- A new center at the Laguna Hills Mall is hoping to clear up confusion and act as a resource for residents exploring healthcare coverage options under California's new health insurance exchange.

Mission Viejo resident Arturo Lacanlale gave a little fist pump after getting help setting up an online Covered California profile at the Insurance Resource Center.

Lacanlale only planned to see whether he qualified for coverage when he dropped in Tuesday morning. But after bringing in his green card, he'll be getting healthcare coverage and a government subsidy to help cover his premium.

"I'm very happy," Lacanlale said. "That was easy for me to understand."

Lacanlale was one of several customers in the center Tuesday seeking answers. The shop was set up by Nationwide Senior Plans LLC last week, and will stay open until the open enrollment deadline March 31.

The aim of the office is to help people sort through healthcare coverage options through Covered California, developed as part of Affordable Care Act, Gary Mann, a partner with Nationwide Senior Plans who helped set up the center, said. All services are free of charge.

Covered California-certified insurance agents who assist consumers in their enrollment are paid a commission by insurance carriers based on the insurance plan the consumer chooses, according to a Covered California board policy. Agents at the center, all certified, can also assist residents with enrollment in Medicare and Medi-Cal, Mann said.

"Our goal is to educate the community on what their options are," he said.

Insurance agents can show residents whether they qualify for subsidies, look up monthly insurance premiums, show them how to set up a profile on CoveredCA.com or enroll them for coverage in about 15 to 20 minutes, Mann said.

The office will be open seven days a week during regular mall hours.

Robert Kerman, a realtor who lives in Laguna Woods, said he tried to sign himself up for coverage online, but he went to the center instead after a frustrating experience online. Kerman finalized his insurance plan on Tuesday morning with Mann.

"I spent a couple of hours on the website myself," Kerman said. "It was impossible to get in. I just saw this place and thought I'd try it."

Most of the center's staff has spent decades in the health insurance industry, he said.

"They're very seasoned," Mann said.

The agents are among more than 700 in Orange County listed as Covered California-certified on the health exchange's website.

Anyone interested in completing their enrollment at the center should bring identification like a California driver's license, their social security number and something to help determine projected income such as a tax return.

Any legal U.S. resident is eligible for coverage.

Contact the writer: 949-454-7373 or mnicolai@ocregister.com; on Twitter @MeganNicolai

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