Covered California this week released new data at the halfway point of its current open-enrollment period. As of Dec. 16, about 230,000 consumers had selected a plan, representing an increase of approximately 16% over the same time last year. In addition, more than 1 million people have renewed their plans for the upcoming year.
More than 540,000 people have been determined eligible for a new state subsidy that offers financial help to many middle-income consumers who previously did not qualify for financial assistance, including about 28,000 people in the middle-income range of 400% to 600% of the federal poverty level.
In addition to the data release, Covered California issued two new reports that detail how California has used the tools of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to benefit millions of Californians. In Covered California’s First Five Years: Improving Access, Affordability and Accountability, the agency highlights the key strategies undertaken to hold health insurance companies accountable, lower costs, and build on the ACA.
Another report, titled Covered California Holding Health Plans Accountable for Quality and Delivery System Reform, summarizes how the 11 health insurance companies Covered California contracts with have met their contractual requirements to foster better quality, healthier populations, and lower costs.
In addition to the two reports, Covered California released a chart pack that illustrates many of the improvements made in the past five years.