Headlines

December 07, 2018

The Health 202: Obamacare enrollment is down 11 percent from last year

With just over a week now left in the sign-up period for 2019 Obamacare plans, new figures show enrollment is down compared with last year. Overall, sign-ups through HealthCare.gov, the federal Affordable Care Act exchange, are down 11 percent through the first five weeks compared with the same time last year -- and experts say final numbers are on track to be lower overall at the end of enrollment. It's still possible for a surge in the final days, as people wait until the last minute to choose health-care plans for 2019.

August 23, 2018

Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee explains why the Affordable Care Act must survive

Sacramento News & Review publisher and CEO Jeff vonKaenel visited Peter V. Lee in his Sacramento office last month to discuss the Affordable Care Act, skyrocketing costs and California’s role in the future of health care.

August 23, 2018

Modern Healthcare - 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare 2018

Covered California's Executive Director, Peter V. Lee, is named to the prestigious list for the second consecutive year.

February 08, 2018

Covered California reports big jump in new enrollees

Covered California finished 2018 open enrollment with 423,484 new enrollees signing up for coverage, so the agency’s leader isn’t worried about his agency’s continued existence.

February 07, 2018

ACA’s state-run insurance exchanges fare better than the law’s federal marketplace

The Affordable Care Act is working -- in states allowed to run it properly.

February 07, 2018

Q&A With Peter V. Lee, Executive Director, Covered California

Peter V. Lee talks about how investments in marketing and public relations drove increased consumer confidence in an entirely new way of buying health insurance.

November 29, 2017

Californians embrace Obamacare despite Trump attacks

Santa Rosa Press Democrat editorial board op-ed

November 01, 2017

Calif. Outspends U.S. To Market Obamacare

Covered California, the state’s Obamacare exchange, is wielding a monster marketing budget this enrollment season that devotes $45 million to ads a contrast to how the Trump administration is handling the federal rollout.

November 01, 2017

Covered California health insurance market is alive and well

San Jose Mercury News Editorial Board Op-Ed on how well Covered California is doing

October 16, 2017

Trump doesn't know it, but his attempt to blow up Obamacare could help California — and other states

Column examining how the Trump administration didn’t fully grasp what their decision to end CSRs could lead to and predicting how one fallout could be increased enrollment.

October 16, 2017

Trump Says Obamacare Is ‘Imploding.’ That’s News To California.

Funny what happens when officials actually believe in the program.

October 16, 2017

Yes, Obamacare needs tweaks — but it’s been a policy triumph

With the exception of Covered California, which created a vibrant market that has saved consumer money with only 4 percent premium growth and has helped health plans make money, most states have struggled to attract enough healthy people to create profitable and stable insurance markets.