Extended Deadline for Covered California Enrollment Ends Today, National Enrollment Nearly Matches Last Year

Given a surge in consumer interest, Covered California extended the enrollment deadline through today, December 22, for health coverage that will begin on January 1, 2018. Over the last two weeks, Covered California has experienced a significant increase in new consumers signing up for coverage. Overall open enrollment figures compared to last year are also significantly higher.

Further, a recent analysis conducted by Covered California determined that net monthly premiums for enrollees who receive financial assistance are on average 10 percent lower than what new and renewing consumers paid last year.

While the deadline for coverage that will begin on January 1 is today, Californians will have until January 31, 2018, to enroll in coverage. For individuals that enroll after today, health insurance coverage will not start until February 1, 2018, at the earliest.

More information on Covered California’s extended deadlines and recent analyses is available here.

Nationally, nearly nine million people have signed up for health insurance coverage through December 15 through the HealthInsurance.gov marketplaces that operate in 39 states. Despite an open enrollment period that was reduced by half, as well as significant federal budget cuts to outreach and enrollment activities, this year’s enrollment numbers nearly match last year’s numbers, surpassing expectations.

More than 2.5 million Americans have enrolled in coverage in state-operated insurance marketplaces through December 15, many of which continue to allow individuals to sign up for coverage over the next several weeks.