Health insurance for $10 or less? Sacramento officials announce “best deal in town”

If you don't have health insurance, know that starting November 1st, there's a place where you can shop and find “the best deal in town” on health insurance.

This place is Covered California, and two-thirds of the state's 5.9 million residents enrolled in a health insurance plan locally pay a monthly premium of $10 or less for a health plan that covers them if their families experiencing unexpected medical problems.

That monthly payment of $10 or less provides peace of mind, said U.S. Rep. Ami Bera, a doctor and Democrat from Elk Grove who has had to counsel patients who were uninsured.

“As a doctor, there is no worse feeling than sitting with a patient who has an illness that you are trying to diagnose,” Bera said. “Maybe it's potential cancer or something else, and they don't have insurance, and you can see the struggle on their face as they're trying to figure out, 'Hey, I have to pay my mortgage, or I have to give food back.' on the table. How do I pay for this test?'”

Bera and other elected and appointed leaders announced the start of open enrollment for health insurance Tuesday at an event at the California State Library in Sacramento.

The registration period begins on Friday and ends on January 31, 2025.

Open enrollment is the only time of year Californians can sign up for coverage without requiring a qualifying reason, such as the loss of a job or the birth of a child.

In the Sacramento region, 125,000 residents are uninsured, although 63,000 of them are eligible for subsidies from Covered California and 62,000 can get free Medi-Cal coverage, said Jessica Altman, executive director of Covered California.

Nearly 90% of California enrollees receive state or federal financial assistance to pay their health care premiums. Nationwide, more than 1.3 million residents are uninsured.

Covered California insurers offer four different levels of health insurance coverage: Bronze policies cover 60% of average annual costs; silver, 73%; gold, 80%; and platinum, 90%. Silver plans may have lower costs depending on household income. Participants are entitled to free preventive care.

Many rewards cost about the same as a movie ticket

For the price of a movie ticket, many parents in the Sacramento area can ensure they can take their child to the doctor or hospital in an emergency, said U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra. He called the monthly premiums of $10 or less “the best deal in town.”

Congress approved expanded premium tax credits in 2021 that will be available through next year, Altman said. However, this additional support must be reauthorized in 2025 to ensure it continues to be available in 2026 and beyond.

Although millions have realized that Covered California offers bargains on health insurance coverage, Altman said her agency's research shows that there are thousands who still don't know what Covered California actually does, how health insurance works or their plan benefits can maximize.

This lack of health literacy, she said, means many Californians are missing out on an opportunity that could reduce their stress and improve their well-being. That's why Covered California partners with the California State Library and a network of hundreds of local libraries across the state to train potential students.

“California libraries are community anchors, providing information, programs and community connections to millions of people of all ages,” said California State Librarian Greg Lucas. “On behalf of the state’s 1,027 local libraries, the State Library looks forward to working with Covered California to connect consumers with the resources and pathways they need to find the right health insurance.”

Subscribe by December 31st to start reporting on January 1st

Consumers must enroll by December 31st to receive coverage starting January 1st. Anyone who registers in January will not have insurance coverage until February 1st. To keep the policies active, premiums must be paid on time.

When enrolling, consumers should provide proof of identity, proof of citizenship or immigration status, proof of income, and proof of social security number. If you do not have these documents, it does not mean that you are not entitled to insurance coverage. Call Covered California or seek help from an enrollment counselor.

The Affordable Care Act created a federal marketplace and state exchanges like Covered California where insurers can only sell policies that meet mandated standards, said U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, who worked on the legislation.

Gone are the days when insurers can discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions, and they need to offer policies that allow parents to continue coverage for college-age students, she said.

This year, the Biden-Harris administration granted eligibility until 2025 to young immigrants granted temporary protection from deportation and work permits under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. It is estimated that there are approximately 40,000 DACA recipients in California who are eligible for coverage. Additionally, Covered California has a special enrollment period for DACA recipients beginning November 1st, allowing them to enroll in coverage beginning in December and enrolling for 2025.

There are various ways to sign up for insurance coverage: The “Covered California” website, for example, offers a shop and comparison tool for do-it-yourselfers. Some people prefer the human touch and weigh the decision with an insurance agent or an enrollment agent at a community-based organization. Others call Covered California or use the agency's online chat feature for help.

The way to get this type of financial help is to apply for coverage through Covered California. A premium tax credit is based on your income and household information. Individuals with incomes between 100 and 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) are eligible for a tax credit to reduce the monthly cost of health insurance.