SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Beginning this month, more than a million Californians are poised to renew their health coverage through the Affordable Care Act — proof that health reform in California has taken hold and is working, says the head of Covered California.
“To date, upwards of 2.5 million people have come through our doors to get coverage,” Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee said. “It’s improving the overall health of our state and making a real difference in the lives of Californians.”
One of Covered California’s first members was Amber Freitas, and she’s coming back for year four. “I would have renewed no matter what,” she said.
For Amber, having health insurance through Covered California has been lifesaving. A mother of two, Freitas recently was diagnosed with breast cancer. “I felt the lump while I was breast feeding and thought it was suspicious,” Freitas said.
Two weeks after Freitas first discovered the lump in her breast, she was on an operating table and then faced an intense regimen of chemotherapy and follow-up surgery. “I’m 34-years-old,” Freitas exclaimed. “I never thought I would be really sick!”
And while life-saving stories like Amber’s are abundant, considerable attention is currently being placed on health insurance rate increases for 2017. Covered California’s average statewide increase will be 13.2 percent, up from an average 4 percent the past two years.
Freitas can understand concerns over rising health care costs, but when it comes to renewing your health coverage, she says, “If you’re going to spend your money on anything how about spending on securing what’s most important. Your life!”
Meanwhile, Lee explained the bump in health insurance rates is in part due to the ending of a three-year federal program that put controls in place to limit the amount of rate increases. Even with the rate controls gone, most consumers could see a much smaller increase — or even pay less next year — if they switch to another plan. That’s where Lee says comparing plans side-by-side, comes in.
“Shopping is going to be more important this year than ever,” Lee said. “Almost 80 percent of our consumers will either be able to pay less than they are paying now, or see their rates go up by no more than 5 percent, if they shop and buy the lowest-cost plan at their same benefit level. That’s the power of shopping.”
If current Covered California members don’t select new health plans before Dec. 15, they will automatically be renewed into their existing plans and then health plans will send them invoices containing the new 2017 monthly rates. Even after being renewed, members still have until the end of Covered California’s three-month open-enrollment period — running from Nov. 1 through Jan. 31 — to change their minds and select different health plans.
As an added bonus for renewing members, more than 90 percent of them will be able to choose between three or more brand-name health insurance carriers in specific regions throughout the state, with all regions offering at least two health plans.
Covered California is also addressing complaints head-on about its members not being able to find doctors in their networks. Starting in 2017, health insurance companies must find and assign primary care physicians to Covered California members within 60 days of receiving payment for the first month’s premium.
“Health care reform isn’t just about making insurance affordable,” Lee noted. “It’s about doing things to make it easier for consumers to get the right care at the right time and the right place.”
Consumers looking to renew their Covered California coverage should visit www.CoveredCA.com or contact Certified Insurance Agents and Certified Enrollers in their local area, who can be found online here: http://www.coveredca.com/get-help/.
