Covered California kicks off its open enrollment period for 2024 health care coverage

(SAN FRANCISCO) Covered California hosted a press event in San Francisco under the Golden Gate Bridge to kick off its 2024 open-enrollment period for the Bay Area residents and encourage them to sign up for health insurance.

This year marks the 11th anniversary of Covered California offering affordable health care coverage in the health insurance marketplace with financial assistance under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Its annual open enrollment period which began on November 1 lets California residents select and sign up their health plans for the upcoming calendar year. Enrollees might make changes to their existing health insurance coverage and the plan providers during the open enrollment until Jan. 31, 2024.

Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman and a group of healthcare leaders attended the press event at Crissy Field under the Golden Gate Bridge to kick off the annual open enrollment.

The leaders who joined the kick off event included Kate Kendell, Covered California Board Member and Chief of Staff of the California Endowment, Dan Bernal, Chief of Staff of the Office of Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Dr. Kim Rhoads, Associate Director of Community Outreach and Engagement at UCSF, and Mercedes Garcia, co-founder of Promotoras Activas San Francisco.

The theme of this year's open enrollment is "Bridging the Gap, Connecting to Care". It highlights the record of financial help through enhanced federal premium support and a new program in California that will reduce out-of-pocket costs for over 650,000 consumers.

The theme helps send a message to all California residents that Covered California is bridging the gap between uninsured Californians and access to affordable coverage and quality care.

Covered California is also currently focused on serving as a bridge for those who are no longer eligible for Medi-Cal or lost their employer-based coverage.

“2024 will be a historic year for health care coverage in California,” Governor Gavin Newsom delivered a statement to kick off the annual open enrollment period. “Here in the Golden State, we are removing barriers and increasing access as we work to create a healthier California for all.”

“There has never been more financial assistance available to help Californians pay for health care through Covered California than there will be in 2024,” said Altman at the San Francisco press event. “We want every uninsured Bay Area resident to know that affordable health care coverage is available and within closer reach than ever before.”

According to Covered California, over 1.6 million Californians currently enroll in health coverage via Covered California.

When Covered California held its first open-enrollment period in 2013, California’s uninsured rate was 17.2%. In 2022, the statewide uninsured rate fell to 6.5%, which was the largest percentage point drop for any state in the nation for the past 11 years.

The deadline for health coverage starting January 1 in 2024 is December 31. Covered California has enrollment assistance available in more than 50 languages.

More information about Covered California can be found at its website: CoveredCA.com, or call its toll free number at 800-300-1506.