Based On Latest Enrollment Numbers, Covered California Now ‘Running In Place’
Despite Covered California's $29 million marketing campaign, many uninsured Californians continue to say they can't justify paying for health insurance. Meanwhile, a new startup insurer falters in the land of the giants.
The San Jose Mercury News:
Obamacare: Are Covered California's Numbers Plateauing?
With Covered California's announcement Wednesday that 1.57 million Californians selected health plans during its third open enrollment period, at least one health care expert believes that the nation's bellwether state in implementing the Affordable Care Act is now essentially running in place. Although the latest numbers don't say how many people have paid for their plan to complete their enrollment -- the only figure that really counts and which will be available in a few months -- some experts say that the net gain from last year's 1.3 million total could be minimal. (Seipel, 2/17)
Modern Healthcare:
Oscar Debuts In California With Extremely Low Enrollment
Oscar Insurance Corp. expanded to California this year. But the New York-based startup health insurer, known for its tech-based philosophy and subway ads, enrolled very few people. A little more than 2,000 Californians selected an Oscar health plan on the public exchange as of Feb. 7, according to figures from Covered California, the state's insurance exchange. That represents a miniscule 0.1% of the 1.57 million people who renewed or chose a 2016 plan on California's exchange. (Herman, 2/17)