Covered California Extends Deadline To Get Coverage Effective Jan. 1
Citing a recent surge in demand, Covered California officials have extended the deadline to sign up for health plans that will start Jan. 1, 2016, the Sacramento Bee reports (Locke, Sacramento Bee, 12/15).
Background
Dec. 15 was the original deadline to enroll in or make changes to coverage that takes effect Jan. 1 (California Healthline, 12/14).
As of two days before the first deadline, 140,000 Californians had enrolled since the enrollment period began Nov. 1.
Of the estimated 750,000 uninsured Californians who are eligible to receive subsidies for insurance purchased through the exchange, Covered California officials have estimated that between 260,000 and 500,000 people will sign up for new coverage before open enrollment ends Jan. 31, 2016 (Gorn, California Healthline, 12/15).
Details of Extension
The exchange extended the deadline for health plans that will start Jan. 1, 2016, by two days, to Dec. 17. Coverage for those who sign up after Dec. 17 will take effect in either February or March.
Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee said, "The spike in interest we are seeing in the last few days tells us there is continued demand for quality, affordable coverage," noting, "We already have enrolled more consumers this year for Jan. 1 coverage than we did last year" (Sacramento Bee, 12/15).
The Covered California service center will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 16 and Dec. 17 ("KPCC News," KPCC, 12/15).
Certified enrollers -- including insurance agents who are still processing thousands of applications -- welcomed the extension, noting that it will allow them to ensure consumers receive coverage (Sacramento Bee, 12/15).
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