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California Health Insurance Consumer Guide
Our California health insurance guide is designed to help you understand the health coverage options and possible financial assistance available to you and your family. Having health coverage is especially necessary in California, as there’s a penalty on the state tax return for non-exempt filers who don’t have health coverage.1
California created its own state-run health insurance exchange, called Covered California. A dozen private health insurers offer coverage for individuals and families via the Covered California platform. And under California rules, all of the plans are standardized.2 So compared with other states, there is much less variation from one plan to another in California’s exchange.
A Covered California plan can be a great option if you need to buy your own health insurance. This includes people who aren’t eligible for Medicare or Medicaid, and also don’t have an offer of affordable health insurance from an employer.
Explore our other comprehensive guides to coverage in California
Dental coverage in California
Looking to improve your smile and save some money at the dentist’s office? Dental insurance may be a valuable supplement to your medical coverage. Our guide explains dental coverage options in California
Medi-Cal: California’s Medicaid program
Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program. Covering nearly 16 million people, it is by far the largest Medicaid program in the country.3
Medicare enrollment in California
More than 6.7 million Californians were covered by Medicare as of May 2023.4 Our California Medicare guide explains the various parts of Medicare and their coverage options, as well as California regulations regarding Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plans.
Short-term coverage in California
California enacted legislation in 2018 that prohibits the sale of short-term health plans in the state. 5 So there are no longer any short-term health plans available in California.6
Frequently asked questions about health insurance in California
Who can buy Marketplace health insurance?
In order to sign up for private health coverage through Covered California, you must:7
- Be a California resident
- Not be incarcerated
- Not be enrolled in Medicare
- Be lawfully present in the United States (California has been expanding access to Medi-Cal for low-income undocumented residents. This will apply to all age groups by 2024.)8
By those rules, most Californians can enroll in coverage through the exchange. But a bigger question for most people is financial assistance, and there are a few additional parameters in order to be eligible for subsidies through Covered California. To qualify for income-based Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTC), federal cost-sharing reductions (CSR), or California’s new state-funded cost-sharing subsidies, you must:
- Not have access to affordable health coverage through an employer. If you have access to an employer’s plan but it seems too expensive, you can use our Employer Health Plan Affordability Calculator to see if you might qualify for premium subsidies via Covered California.
- Not be eligible for Medi-Cal (California Medicaid).
Beyond those basic parameters, qualifying for Covered California subsidies will depend on how much your household earns and how that compares with the cost of the second-lowest-cost Silver plan in your area (the cost of this plan will depend on your age and location).
When can I enroll in an ACA-compliant plan in California?
California’s open enrollment period is longer than the window used in most other states. It begins November 1 and continues through January 31.9 This window is your opportunity to select a new plan or switch to a different plan. The enrollment window is applicable to plans obtained via Covered California or directly from an insurer, but note that subsidies are only available through Covered California.
For coverage to take effect on January 1, you need to complete your application by December 31. (This is later than the deadline in many other states.) If you enroll between January 1 and January 31, your coverage will take effect on February 1.10
After the annual open enrollment window ends, you may still be eligible to enroll or make a plan change if you experience a qualifying life event, such as giving birth or losing other health coverage. And some people can enroll year-round even without a specific qualifying life event.11
Enrollment in Medi-Cal is available year-round.
How do I enroll in a California Marketplace plan?
To enroll in an ACA Marketplace/exchange plan in California, you can:
- Visit Covered California, California’s health insurance exchange (Marketplace). Using this online platform, you can compare plans, determine whether you’re eligible for financial assistance, and enroll in coverage.
- Enroll in a Covered California plan with the help of an insurance agent or certified enrollment counselor. 12 Covered California has a “help on demand” program that allows you to submit your contact information and then receive a call from a certified enrollment assister who will help you sort out the details.
You can reach the Covered California call center at 1-800-300-1506, Monday to Friday between 8 am and 6 pm.
How can I find affordable health insurance in California?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides income-based subsidies that can reduce the amount you pay for your coverage each month. These subsidies are available to applicants who meet the eligibility requirements and enroll in a health plan through Covered California.
More than 80% of Covered California enrollees were receiving premium subsidies as of early 2023. These subsidies averaged $486/month, and after the subsidies were applied, the average enrollee’s premium was about $134/month.13
If your household income isn’t more than 250% of the federal poverty level, you’ll also be eligible for federal cost-sharing reductions (CSR), which will reduce your deductible and other out-of-pocket expenses. These benefits are built into Silver-level plans if the applicant is eligible for them. Forty-one percent of Covered California enrollees were receiving CSR benefits as of 2023.14
And as of 2024, California will supplement the federal CSR benefits with additional state-funded cost-sharing subsidies. Eligible Silver-plan enrollees will have $0 deductibles and lower costs for other out-of-pocket expenses.15
Covered California and Medi-Cal (California Medicaid) use the same application, and the system will let you know whether you’re eligible for Medi-Cal or a private plan through Covered California – with subsidies if you qualify for them.
Source: CMS.gov 16
How many insurers offer Marketplace coverage in California?
For 2024 coverage, 12 insurers will offer plans through California’s exchange. This is the same as the number of participating insurers in 2023, but there will be one insurer exit at the end of 2023 and one newcomer for 2024:17
- Aetna CVS Health
- Anthem Blue Cross of California (plans available statewide)
- Blue Shield of California (plans available statewide)
- Chinese Community Health Plan
- Health Net
- Inland Empire Health Plan (new for 2024)
- Kaiser Permanente
- L.A. Care Health Plan
- Molina Healthcare
- Sharp Health Plan
- Valley Health Plan
- Western Health Advantage
Oscar Health Plan of California offers plans through Covered California in 2023, but is leaving the market at the end of 2023.17
Are Marketplace health insurance premiums increasing in California?
Covered California’s insurers have filed the following preliminary rate changes for 2024:17
California’s ACA Marketplace Plan 2024 Proposed Rate Increases by Insurance Company |
|
---|---|
Issuer | Percent Increase |
Aetna CVS Health | 0.2% |
Anthem Blue Cross | 10.9% |
Blue Shield of California | 15.0% |
Chinese Community Health Plan | 5.1% |
Health Net | 8.4% |
Kaiser Permanente | 7.4% |
LA Care Health Plan | 6.1% |
Molina Healthcare | 8.1% |
Sharp Health Plan | 6.2% |
Valley Health Plan | 7.1% |
Western Health Advantage | 6.5% |
Inland Empire Health Plan | New for 2024 |
Source: Covered California17
It’s important to remember that average rate changes are for full-price plans, and most enrollees do not pay full price: Ninety percent of Covered California enrollees were receiving premium subsidies in 2023, to offset some or all of their monthly payments.18
The subsidy amount is different for each enrollee and changes each year depending on the cost of the second-lowest-cost Silver plan relative to the enrollee’s household income. Under the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act, subsidies are larger and more widely available than they used to be, and that will continue to be true at least through 2025.
Full-price premium changes depend on the specific plan (for each insurer, premium changes vary from one plan to another), as well as the enrollee’s age and zip code.
So for the majority of Covered California enrollees, net premium changes depend on how their specific plan’s rate changes, as well as year-over-year changes in their subsidy amount.
If the cost of your current plan is increasing for the coming year, you may want to consider some of the other plans that are available via Covered California. You might find some that are less expensive and offer similar benefits.
How many people are insured through California’s Marketplace?
During the open enrollment period for 2023 coverage, 1,739,368 people selected private plans through Covered California.19
Effectuated enrollment totals are always lower than the number of people who sign up during open enrollment. CMS reported that 1,701,375 people had effectuated coverage through Covered California as of early 2023.20
Source: 2014,21 2015, 22 2016,23 2017,24 2018,25 2019,26 2020,27 2021,28 2022,29 2023,30 202431
What health insurance resources are available to California residents?
Covered California: This is California’s Marketplace/exchange. Residents can use Covered California to enroll in individual/family health plans and receive income-based subsidies, and also to enroll in Medi-Cal. You can contact Covered California at 800-300-1506.
California Department of Health Care Services: The agency that administers Medi-Cal and various other health care programs.
California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC): Regulates the vast majority of California’s commercial (non-self-insured) health plans, and assists consumers and businesses with insurance-related questions and concerns.
California Department of Insurance: Regulates California’s insurance plans that aren’t regulated by the Department of Managed Health Care. If a complaint or concern is filed with the DMHC and it’s for a product that’s regulated by the Department of Insurance, it will be forwarded to the Department of Insurance.
California Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP): A service for California Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers. HICAP provides information and assistance with questions related to Medicare eligibility, enrollment, and claims.
Louise Norris is an individual health insurance broker who has been writing about health insurance and health reform since 2006. She has written dozens of opinions and educational pieces about the Affordable Care Act for healthinsurance.org.
Footnotes
- “Penalty” CoveredCA.com, Accessed August 2023 ⤶
- “Covered California 2023 Patient-Centered Benefit Plan Designs” CoveredCA.com, June 16,2022 ⤶
- “Medi-Cal Enrollment Update” California Department of Health Care Services, July 13, 2023 ⤶
- “Medicare Monthly Enrollment” CMS.gov, May 2023 ⤶
- “CA SB910” BillTrack*50*, Accessed August 2023 ⤶
- “Availability of short-term health insurance in California” healthinsurance.org, Aug. 14, 2023 ⤶
- “Who can get a health plan through Covered California?” CoveredCA.com, Accessed August 2023 ⤶
- “Medicaid eligibility and enrollment in California” healthinsurance.org, March 15, 2023 ⤶
- “Dates and Deadlines” CoveredCA.com Accessed August 2023 ⤶
- “When will my coverage start?” CoveredCA.com, Accessed August 2023 ⤶
- “Who doesn’t need a special enrollment period?“ healthinsurance.org, Accessd August 2023 ⤶
- “Help With Your Application” CoveredCA.com, Accessed August 2023 ⤶
- ”2023 OEP State-Level Public Use File (ZIP)” CMS.gov, March 23, 2023 ⤶
- “Effectuated Enrollment: Early 2023 Snapshot and Full Year 2022 Average” CMS.gov, March 15, 2023 ⤶
- “Covered California to Launch State-Enhanced Cost-Sharing Reduction Program in 2024 to Improve Health Care Affordability for Enrollees” CoveredCA.com, July 20, 2023 ⤶
- “2024 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, March 2024 ⤶
- “Covered California’s Health Plans and Rates for 2024: More Affordability Support and Consumer Choices Will Shield Many From Rate Increase” CoveredCA.com, July 25, 2023 ⤶ ⤶ ⤶ ⤶
- “Effectuated Enrollment: Early 2023 Snapshot and Full Year 2022 Average” CMS.gov, March 15, 2023 ⤶
- “Health Insurance Marketplaces 2023 Open Enrollment Report” CMS.gov, 2023 ⤶
- ”Effectuated Enrollment: Early 2023 Snapshot and Full Year 2022 Average” CMS.gov, March 15, 2023 ⤶
- “ASPE Issue Brief (2014) ” ASPE, 2015 ⤶
- “ Health Insurance Marketplaces 2015 Open Enrollment Period: March Enrollment Report ”, HHS.gov, 2015 ⤶
- “ HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACES 2016 OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD: FINAL ENROLLMENT REPORT” HHS.gov, 2016 ⤶
- “2017 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files ” CMS.gov, 2017 ⤶
- “ 2018 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files ” CMS.gov, 2018 ⤶
- “2019 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files ” CMS.gov, 2019 ⤶
- “ 2020 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files ” CMS.gov, 2020 ⤶
- “ 2021 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files ” CMS.gov, 2021 ⤶
- “ 2022 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files ” CMS.gov, 2022 ⤶
- “ Health Insurance Marketplaces 2023 Open Enrollment Report ” CMS.gov, 2023 ⤶
- “HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACES 2024 OPEN ENROLLMENT REPORT” CMS.gov, 2024 ⤶