Covered California Announces Special Enrollment Period Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Today, Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee, along with Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Director Dr. Bradley Gilbert and State Medicaid Director Jacey Cooper, announced a special enrollment period for health insurance coverage amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Effective today, Friday, March 20, Californians who meet eligibility requirements and are without health insurance are able to sign up for coverage through June 30, 2020.

This enrollment period is similar to those in place during the annual open enrollment period, and those who sign up for health coverage would receive coverage beginning on the first of the following month. Consumers who sign up for coverage through Covered California may also find out if they are eligible for no-cost or low-cost coverage through Medi-Cal; those eligible for Medi-Cal can enroll online and have coverage that is effective immediately. Expanded state subsidies will also be offered to income-eligible applicants.

In announcing the special enrollment period, DHCS Director Dr. Bradley Gilbert indicated, “The extraordinary challenges posed by COVID-19 demand an equally extraordinary response, and the Medi-Cal and Covered California systems are stepping up to meet the need for health coverage and ease access to services.”

The full special enrollment period announcement is available here.