March 05, 2014

Central Coast Enrollment Figures Through Jan. 31 Released By Covered California And Department Of Health Care Services

[tabular data corrected 3/14/14]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California™ and the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced today that from Oct. 1, 2013, to Jan. 31, 2014, under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 50,985 consumers in six Central Coast counties enrolled in subsidized and non-subsidized Covered California health insurance plans. The new total represents a 44 percent increase from the 35,301 enrollments recorded through Dec. 31, 2013.


The four-month total also represents 156 percent of the base projection of 32,602 enrollments Covered California estimated for the region during the entire six-month enrollment period, which ends March 31 (see the table attached).

The impressive pace of enrollments in the Central Coast is due in part to enhanced aspects of Covered California’s customer service. The agency has increased staff to answer consumer calls, added phone lines, improved its website efficiency, expanded its live Web chat function and upgraded its Spanish-language Web pages.

The Central Coast counties of Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura represent about 7 percent of the statewide enrollment. The local total includes 44,700 consumers eligible for financial subsidies. These counties encompass Covered California pricing regions 9 and 12.


For the four-month period, which is two-thirds of the open-enrollment period for 2014 coverage, 728,410 consumers enrolled in plans statewide.


Tables and graphics showing enrollment by metal tier and health insurance plan in each region are available online at www.coveredca.com/pdfs/newsroom/JanRegionalEnrollmentTables.pdf and www.coveredca.com/pdfs/newsroom/jan-regionals.pdf.

About Covered California
Covered California is the state’s marketplace for the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Covered California, in partnership with the California Department of Health Care Services, 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 helps individuals determine whether they are eligible for premium assistance that is 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 can 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.

About the Department of Health Care Services


The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) works to preserve and improve the physical and mental health of all Californians. DHCS provides health care services for approximately 9.4 million Californians through Medi-Cal, including medical, dental, mental health, substance use treatment services and long-term services and supports. This is accomplished through an investment of approximately $70 billion annually in public funds for the care of low-income families, children, pregnant women, seniors and persons with disabilities. DHCS focuses on delivering quality, effective services primarily through coordinated systems of care provided by 21 Medi-Cal managed care plans located in all of California’s 58 counties. For more information about DHCS, please visit www.dhcs.ca.gov.

Total Four-Month Enrollment Compared
with Six-Month Base Projection
Base Projection*
for 3/31/2014
Total Enrolled
(with plan selection)
on 1/31/2014
Difference
from
Base Projection
for 3/31/14
Performance
as of 1/31/2014
(% of 3/31/14
base projection)
Geographic Regions
Greater Bay Area
89,599
163,512
73,913
182%
Sacramento
28,726
38,507
9,781
134%
Central Coast
32,602
50,985
18,383
156%
Los Angeles
177,602
199,158
20,556
112%
Specific Counties
Fresno
14,500
10,884
(3,616)
75%
Orange
44,392
72,906
28,514
164%
San Diego
43,054
63,846
20,792
148%
San Bernardino**
35,692
24,571
(11,121)
69%
Riverside**
40,377
34,428
(5,949)
85%
Statewide
Total
580,000
728,410
148,410
126%
*Covered California projections based on available information, including CalSIM 1.8 data.
**The numbers in the “Total Enrolled,” “Difference” and “Performance” columns for San Bernardino and Riverside counties have been corrected. The correct numbers are shown above.


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