More Than 238K Newly Enrolled in Covered Calif. Plans as of Jan. 2
As of Jan. 2, more than 238,000 Californians had newly selected health coverage through Covered California, according to a release, the Orange County Register reports.
Covered California's third open enrollment period began on Nov. 1, 2015, and runs through Jan. 31.
The state exchange expects a total of 295,000 to 450,000 new enrollees by the end of January.
Meanwhile, more than 124,000 new and renewed Covered California enrollees have opted for family dental coverage during the third open enrollment period (Ratzlaff, Orange County Register, 1/7).
In August 2014, the state's insurance exchange announced that it planned to offer optional family dental coverage as an add-on plan for an additional cost beginning in 2015 (California Healthline, 11/19).
National Enrollment Figures
Nationally, more than 11.3 million U.S. residents have enrolled in coverage through the Affordable Care Act's exchanges, according to HHS data released Thursday, the Washington Post's "To Your Health" reports.
According to the data:
- 8.6 million, or about 76% of the total 11.3 million sign-ups, occurred through the federal exchange; and
- 2.7 million, or about 24% of the total sign-ups, occurred through state-run exchanges (Sun, "To Your Health," Washington Post, 1/7).
About three million of the enrollees signed up for exchange plans for the first time, while 8.2 million were previously enrolled in exchange coverage (HHS release, 1/7).
More Than 500 Enrollment Events Scheduled in Calif.
In related news, more than 500 enrollment events are scheduled across California this month, including 160 in Los Angeles County.
Most events will feature bilingual enrollment assistance. For instance, three-fourths of events will include Spanish-language assistance, and some events will offer assistance in Arabic, Armenian, Cantonese, Farsi, Hmong, Korean, Mandarin, Russian, Tagalog and Vietnamese (Covered California release [1], 1/7).
New Enrollment Center Opens
Meanwhile, Covered California is opening a new comprehensive enrollment center in Hawthorne, near Los Angeles.
According to the exchange, the center is the first of its kind to have regular hours, prominent signage and insurers on site. Certified plan-based enrollment assisters, enrollment counselors and insurance agents will be available at the center to help consumers. The center also will offer literature and information for consumers to take home.
Kirk Whelan, director of outreach and sales at Covered California, said, "This center will provide consumers with visible, convenient and consistent access to enrollment support," adding, "It will help us reach and enroll important segments of the population that remain uninsured." Whelan said the center targets populations in:
- Carson;
- Gardena;
- Hawthorne;
- Inglewood; and
- Torrance (Covered California release [2], 1/7).