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The New Year is right around the corner and it’s a time to set new goals. One opportunity that everyone should embrace is to make sure that you have access to quality health care in 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic and the new Omicron variant have highlighted the importance of our health, and now is the time to get comprehensive health coverage.
The good news is that quality health care coverage is now more affordable than ever before, thanks to the new and increased financial help from the American Rescue Plan. The law dramatically increased the subsidies available to Californians in nearly every income bracket – allowing them to get covered and stay covered with comprehensive, name-brand health insurance.
So, what does that mean? If you or someone you know is uninsured right now – or has coverage directly from a health insurance company – now is the time to check out your options from Covered California.
Covered California is part of the Affordable Care Act, sometimes known as Obamacare – and it’s the only place you can go to get financial help to bring the cost of health coverage within reach. Right now, an estimated 1.1 million Californians are uninsured and eligible for financial help. The overwhelming majority of this group, about 940,000 people, will qualify for no-cost health coverage through either Covered California or Medi-Cal. Even if you do not qualify for $0 health plans, many people can get health coverage for less than $10 per month.
In addition, the American Rescue Plan extends the financial help available to middle-income Californians, who were previously ineligible for federal financial help. For example, an estimated 260,000 Californians purchase their coverage directly from a health insurance company, without any assistance. They can switch to Covered California and in many cases keep their same health plans and doctors, while saving hundreds of dollars a month.
Everyone can benefit from ringing in the New Year with big savings, peace of mind and access to quality health care.
Health insurance protects you financially if an injury or illness sends you to the emergency room or hospital. Preventive care helps keep you healthy and out of the hospital in the first place, which is especially important for African American communities, which experience higher rates of chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure.
You can easily find out whether you are eligible for financial help and find out what your health coverage options are by visiting www.CoveredCA.com. All you need to do is enter a few pieces of information – your age, ZIP code, household income, and the ages of those who need health insurance – and you can see your results in just seconds. You can also call Covered California’s Service Center at (800) 300-1506 to enroll in health plans.
Sign up by Dec. 31 and your coverage will start on New Year’s Day. If you miss that deadline, don’t worry, open enrollment runs through Jan. 31. There has never been a better time for Californians to get health insurance, and with this new financial help available, the cost of health coverage is more affordable than ever before.
