Covered California/ACA Open Enrollment Begins Nov. 1: Free Local Help is Available

Solano County residents without health insurance are urged to explore their options when the Covered California open enrollment period begins on November 1, 2015. The Solano Coalition for Better Health (SCBH) is working with Covered California to provide free assistance to Solano County residents. SCBH Certified Enrollment Counselors can help those exploring Covered California to:

• Understand the benefits of Covered California
• Learn about the types of financial assistance available
• Navigate the tiers of coverage
• Compare health insurance plans
• Apply for a health insurance plan
• Renew their Covered California or Medi-Cal coverage

Solano Coalition staff can also provide information and enrollment assistance for other low-cost or free health coverage options. These include Medi-Cal and Healthy Kids, in addition to Covered California options.

Because of the Medi-Cal expansion portion of the Affordable Care Act, more people than ever before are now eligible for Medi-Cal. Our enrollment specialists can also help to determine eligibility for expanded Medi-Cal. The Coalition team can even help with re-enrollment into a Medi-Cal or Covered California plan.

Those in Covered California plans must renew during the open enrollment period, which begins November 1 and ends January 31. Medi-Cal enrollees must renew annually on the anniversary of their enrollment into the program. People without health insurance face penalties in 2016, up to $10,000 for some individuals.

The Solano Coalition provides Covered California and other enrollment assistance free of charge at sites throughout Solano County, including Dixon, Fairfield, Suisun City, Vacaville and Vallejo. To make an appointment, please call 800-978-7547.

Covered California Fact Sheet

California is leading the way in implementing the Affordable Care Act by expanding health care access through no-cost and low cost health insurance through Medi-Cal and Covered California and shifting the health care system towards prevention to help people stay healthy.

Here’s what Californians need to know:

7 Key Points

• The last day for 2015 Covered California open enrollment is January 31, 2016.
• Free preventive services, such as basic checkups, vaccinations and life-saving cancer screenings, are now available to insured Californians, no matter what medical plan they have. Many new preventive services are now considered essential health benefits, including birth control, mammograms, and cervical cancer screenings.
• If you don’t have insurance through your employer, Covered California will help you find the right plan for you and your family. Financial help is available for those who qualify to make health coverage more affordable for many Californians. Medi-Cal has been expanded to many more adults, too.
• Plans are affordable. For example, the monthly premium for a family of four making $60,000 a year is as low as $199 for a Bronze Plan or $367 for a Silver Plan. The monthly premium for a family making $40,000 a year is $2 for a Bronze Plan or $122 for a Silver Plan. The monthly premium for a single adult making $45,000 a year is as low as $218 for a Bronze Plan and $294 for a Silver Plan.
• If you’re under the age of 26, you can stay on your parents’ health plan – even if you’re married or don’t live with them.
• Insurance companies cannot deny coverage to adults or children with pre-existing medical conditions.
• Insurance companies will no longer be able to charge more for coverage based on gender or medical history. They are also required to spend at least 80% of your premium dollars, the money you pay for coverage on your medical care.

The ACA’s Impact in California: By the Numbers

• Nearly 2 million Californians have enrolled in plans through Covered California, and many of those have received financial assistance to buy insurance for as little as $100 a month.
• More than 3 million Californians have enrolled in low- or no-cost coverage through Medi-Cal.
• Over 435,000 young adults gained insurance coverage through the requirement that health plans allow parents to keep children under the age of 26 on their family plans.
• Over 1.4 million Californians with private insurance coverage received over $65 million in rebates in 2012, due to the law’s requirement that health insurance companies spend at least 80 cents on the dollar on actual care.
• ALL Californians enrolled in coverage through Covered California plans or Medi-Cal benefit from a ban on annual and lifetime limits on coverage costs.

from getcoveredca.org

Solano Coalition for Better Health Fact Sheet

• The Solano Coalition for Better Health (SCBH) is working with Covered California to provide free assistance to Solano County residents. SCBH Certified Enrollment Counselors can help those exploring Covered California to:

• Understand the benefits of Covered California
• Learn about the types of financial assistance available
• Navigate the metal tiers of coverage
• Compare health insurance plans
• Apply for a health insurance plan
• Re-enroll in Medi-Cal or a Covered California plan

• SCBH staff will work with each family or individual to find the best affordable insurance solution to fit their budget, income and needs, whether the best solution is a Covered California plan, Medi-Cal or the Solano Kids Insurance Program (SKIP) for children.
• SCBH has reached out to thousands in Solano County about Covered California and other coverage options at community events and through convenient personal appointments. More than 10,000 children and adults were enrolled in Covered California, Medi-Cal or other subsidized health plans through the SCBH in 2014.
• This assistance is provided free of charge at sites throughout Solano County, including at the SCBH office in Suisun City. To make an appointment, please call 1-800-978-SKIP.
• The Solano Coalition for Better Health is a non-profit organization founded in 1988 whose mission is to improve the health and quality of life of Solano County communities, neighborhoods and people by providing leadership, focusing resources and developing partnerships. Coalition Programs include the SKIP children’s insurance plan and a number of other efforts that address critical health access and wellness issues.
• Coalition member organizations include Solano County Health & Social Services, Kaiser Permanente, NorthBay Healthcare, Sutter Health, the Partnership Health Plan, Community Medical Centers, First 5 Solano, La Clinica de la Raza, Planned Parenthood, Solano Community College, Solano Medical Society, Solano Office of Education, Touro University and the United Way.