Covered California is the state’s health insurance marketplace where individuals and families can shop for and compare health plans, apply for financial assistance to lower their premiums, and get coverage that meets the requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare). It’s designed to help Californians find affordable, quality health insurance that fits their needs.

To be eligible for Covered CA, you must be a legal resident of CA, a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawfully present immigrant. Eligibility is based on income, and you may also qualify for Medi-Cal if your income is at or a certain percentage below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

Covered CA offers financial assistance in the form of premium subsidies (lower monthly insurance costs) and cost sharing reductions (reduce out-of-pocket expenses like deductibles and copayments).

The open enrollment period for Covered CA typically runs from November to January. However, you may also qualify for special enrollment if you experience a qualifying life event, such as losing coverage, getting married, having a baby, and more. Get in touch with us and we can help you figure out if you can enroll today!

Covered CA offers a range of health plans categorized into four tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. These tiers differ in terms of monthly premiums and the percentage of healthcare costs covered by the plan. You can choose a plan based on your healthcare needs and budget.

Yes, you can! Thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), health insurance companies can no longer deny coverage or charge higher premiums because of pre-existing conditions. No matter your health history, you have the right to affordable health insurance.

Covered CA offers dental coverage options once a health plan is chosen, but not vision plans. These can be added to your health coverage, either as stand-alone plans or as part of a family plan, depending on your needs.

When applying for Covered CA, you’ll need to provide personal information such as your Social Security number, proof of CA residency, estimated annual income, and information about your household size. These documents help determine your eligibility and any financial assistance you may receive.

You can enroll in a major medical health insurance plan outside of the open enrollment period only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). Events that permit an SEP can include, for example, marriage, divorce, adoption of a child, job loss, or a permanent move to where different qualifying health plans are available. In most cases, eligibility for an SEP extends for 60 days from the triggering event date.

A health insurance deductible is the amount of money you pay out-of-pocket before your insurance company begins to cover the costs of your medical expenses.

For example, if your deductible is $1,000, you would be responsible for paying the first $1,000 of your medical bills before your health insurance coverage provides any benefit.

After you meet your deductible, your health insurance company will typically cover a portion of your medical expenses, though you may be responsible for paying the remaining portion through copays or coinsurance. Depending on your deductible and the costs associated with your medical visits, it could take several months or even just one visit to meet your deductible.

It’s important to note that some health insurance plans may have separate deductibles for different types of medical services, such as prescription drugs or hospital stays. Many health insurance plans also have an out-of-pocket maximum, which is the most you will have to pay for that plan’s covered services within a calendar year. Costs that go towards meeting your deductible usually also go towards your out-of-pocket maximum, but that is not always the case.