Covered California Offers $43M to Groups That Direct Clients to Website
California's health insurance exchange is offering $43 million in grant funding to help not-for-profit clinics and community groups direct clients to information on the exchange website, HealthyCal reports (Potter, HealthyCal, 3/14).
Background
California's exchange -- named Covered California -- primarily will serve individuals and small businesses. The exchange is expected to open for registration in October (California Healthline, 2/14).
Groups Seek Exchange Grants
Recently, about 30 individuals from local not-for-profits and community groups in the Riverside and San Bernardino area met to plan a strategy for winning some of the grant money. Exchange officials have estimated that nearly 320,000 individuals in Riverside and San Bernardino counties will be eligible to purchase insurance through Covered California.
Victoria Stephan -- a consultant for the Inland Empire Children's Health Initiative Collaborative -- said that outreach is important because many individuals might not know they are eligible to purchase plans in the exchange.
She provided an example, saying, "An employed person may get their insurance through their employer, but the premiums for their family arenât covered or are too high for them to pay out of their income. So, the family members would be eligible to purchase insurance through the health exchange."
The exchange also is offering $3 million in grant funding for promotion of the Small Business Health Options Program, which will educate small business owners on employer plans offered through the exchange (HealthyCal, 3/14). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.