144K Sign Up for Covered Calif. During First Month of Enrollment

During the first month of Covered California's second open enrollment period, more than 144,000 state residents signed up for a health plan through the exchange, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The open enrollment period runs from Nov. 15 to Feb. 15, 2015 (Terhune, Los Angeles Times, 12/17/14).

Details of Enrollment

As of Dec. 15, the exchange received 301,539 applications for private coverage during its second open enrollment period (Robertson, Sacramento Business Journal, 12/17). Of those applicants, 144,178 also selected a health plan.

About half of the individuals who selected a plan have already paid their first monthly premium online.

Meanwhile, 216,423 state residents since Nov. 15 have signed up for Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program.

Reasons for High Enrollment

Yolanda Richardson, chief deputy executive director at Covered California, attributed the high number of sign-ups to the exchange's outreach at storefront locations and clinics, and other initiatives (Los Angeles Times, 12/17/14).

According to a release, about 31% of new enrollees signed up for health coverage on their own, compared with 41% who did so during the exchange's first open enrollment period (Covered California release, 12/17/14).

Broadcast Coverage

Headlines and links to broadcast coverage of Covered California enrollment are provided below.

• "Covered California Sign Ups Continue at Strong Pace" (Aliferis, "State of Health," KQED, 12/17/14).
• "Covered California Extends Enrollment Deadline, Urges More Sign-Ups" (Adler, "KXJZ News," Capital Public Radio, 12/17/14).
• "Californians Signing Up for Health Insurance at a Robust Pace" (O'Neill, "KPCC News," KPCC, 12/17/14).