Deadline to get mandated health insurance through Covered California is Jan. 31
This year, more people will qualify for subsidies and new funding will lower monthly costs of health insurance for middle income individuals and families. But a new state law also brings back a cash penalty against people who don't have health insurance that the federal government dropped last year.
Gov.
"I tell people: paying for health insurance is cheaper than paying the tax penalty," said
People who don't sign up for some form of health insurance by the
Covered
When the federal government dropped the penalty for the uninsured last year, enrollment in Covered California dropped from 1.43 million in
In
In the region, 51,310 customers purchased insurance through the state marketplace for
Hightower said he gets about 20 calls a day from people asking about health coverage plans such as Covered California and
In 2014, when Covered California was new, Hightower said he spent a lot of time talking with people about the benefits of having health insurance, such as free preventative care like immunizations and screenings.
Today, more people seem to understand the benefits of having health insurance, and their concerns are primarily whether they can make the monthly payments even with subsidized plans, he said. Hightower said others simply don't trust the government.
Affordability is a universal concern, said
The counselors provide free assistance to people applying for coverage through Covered California or
"Most people want insurance but as you know
This year, people previously not eligible to get health insurance through Covered California might now qualify because the 2019-2020 state budget expanded Covered California medical coverage subsidies for people earning wages between four and six times the
Once the
"We really want people to come in and see us and to discuss their options and look at what's possible," Moore said. "Especially those people who thought they might make too much money, we want them to know that they can get help."
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