If you don’t have insurance through your employer you will need to get coverage by January 1, 2014. Covered California, the new health insurance exchange operating throughout the state, will function as a marketplace through which you can compare insurance plans available to you and find the coverage you need. Covered California opened for enrollment today, October 1, 2013, to set plans in place that will begin on January 1, 2014. Failure to establish insurance for the next year may lead to fines or penalties.
Many California residents don’t have insurance because they believe it will be too expensive, but under the changes made by the Affordable Care Act insurance coverage will become far more reasonable for everyone. There are also federal programs available to support those that simply cannot afford their medical coverage.
Covered California will be serving anyone who is a resident of the state. Insurance can no longer be denied to anyone due to previous health conditions, and essential health benefits are required to be available in all plans regardless of their cost. For more information about how an exchange works and how to use exchanges to find individual health insurance contact the insurance experts at Bernardini & Donovan Insurance Services.
