Consumer Interest Remains Strong for Health Insurance Offered Through Covered California Marketplace
94,500 Applications Started Since Oct. 1, 2013
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California™ announced continued strong consumer interest in the agency’s health insurance marketplace and Medi-Cal, with more than 600,000 unique visits to its website and more than 45,000 calls to its Service Center during the week ending Oct. 12.
Since open enrollment began Oct. 1, consumers have been shopping
and comparing among 12 insurers offering health care coverage through Covered
California, where consumers also can determine if they are eligible to enroll,
eligible for subsidies or eligible for Medi-Cal.
For the first two weeks of open enrollment, more than 1.5
million unique visits were made to www.CoveredCA.com. The Service Center has
handled more than 100,000 calls during the same period. From Oct. 1 through
Oct. 12, more than approximately 94,500 applications were started.
Total enrollment for October will be released in November.
About Covered California
Covered California is the state’s marketplace for the
federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Covered California was
charged with creating a new health insurance marketplace in which individuals
and small businesses can get access to affordable health insurance plans. With
coverage starting in 2014, Covered California will help individuals determine
whether they are eligible for premium assistance that will be available on a
sliding-scale basis to reduce insurance costs or whether they are eligible for
low-cost or no-cost Medi-Cal. Consumers can then compare health insurance plans
and choose the plan that works best for their health needs and budget. Small
businesses will be able to purchase competitively priced health insurance plans
and offer their employees the ability to choose from an array of plans and may
qualify for federal tax credits.
Covered California is an independent part of the state
government whose job is to make the new market work for California’s consumers.
It is overseen by a five-member board appointed by the Governor and the
Legislature. For more information on Covered California, please visit
www.CoveredCA.com.