Covered California is extending its enrollment period due to the coronavirus pandemic, and L.A. Care Covered staff will be ready to help. Last month, Covered California extended enrollment until April 30, because a survey found that people were unaware of the new state mandate requiring people to have insurance or the new expanded state subsidies. They wanted to give those people additional time to sign up. This time, enrollment is extended to June 30 because of national emergency.
The decision to extend enrollment was based largely on the number of people who are losing jobs because of the coronavirus outbreak and the governor’s stay-at-home order. In just one day earlier this week, 80,000 people filed for unemployment, a jump from 40,000 two days earlier.
The UCLA Anderson Forecast predicts California’s unemployment rate could jump to 6.3 percent by the end of the year, after starting the year at a record-low 3.9 percent. As many as 280,000 people are expected to lose their jobs by the first quarter of 2021.
Covered California and the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) say they want to make sure that those losing employment have “a ready path to coverage — whether through Medi-Cal or the plans offered through Covered California.”
There is widespread disruption in the lives of Californians as a result of coronavirus, and L.A. Care, like Covered California and DHCS, wants to do all we can to ease concerns.
Anyone who wants to inquire about either our L.A. Care Covered plans or Medi-Cal can contact our Member Services Department at 866-403-5290. The line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. You can also find out more about the plans at lacare.org.