Dear Friends,
This November 1st marked the annual start of California’s Open Enrollment period for the Covered California Health Exchange – a free service that connects Californians with brand-name health insurance under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. During open enrollment, individuals and families who need health insurance can sign up for coverage, and those already enrolled can change their existing plans to better suit their needs. Open Enrollment begins November 1, 2024, and ends January 31, 2025.
- To enroll, click here and start your online application.
- Visit your nearest Certified Enroller in person in Alameda or Oakland
- Or call (800) 300-1506.
For years, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients have not been eligible to receive healthcare coverage through Covered California. However, starting November 1, 2024, over 40,000 California residents are eligible for Covered CA healthcare under the Affordable Care Act after President Biden’s administration finalized the rule earlier this year.
- To enroll, click here and start your online application.
- Visit your nearest Certified Enroller in person in Alameda or Oakland
- Or call (800) 300-1506.
As Chair of the Assembly Health Committee, I’m conscious of the difficulty of maintaining affordable healthcare coverage and easing the price of living. That’s why I’m committed to the continued expansion of affordable healthcare and investment in resources like Community Health Clinics, which provide life-saving care to residents across Assembly District 18 regardless of income. In the 2023 state budget, the legislature expanded the California Enhanced Cost Sharing Reduction Program within Covered CA to increase eligibility for some health plans that include financial assistance and $0 dollars in deductible payments. If you have any questions about enrolling in Covered California or other public health initiatives here in the state, please contact my District Office at (510) 286-1670 or by visiting my website.
Yours in Service,
Mia Bonta
Assemblymember, 18th District
In this newsletter, you'll find the following information:
- Section 1: How to Enroll in Covered CA for More Affordable Healthcare Options
- Section 2: Now Eligible - Recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
- Section 3: NEW - Medicare Prescription Payment Plan
Assemblymember Mia Bonta & staff are committed to keeping AD-18 residents fully engaged and informed. Please send this newsletter to a friend and subscribe!
Stay connected with our office at (510) 286-1670, Email Me, or follow us on social media.
Section 1: How to Enroll in Covered CA Health Exchange during Open Enrollment
Covered California is the state-based exchange, or marketplace under the Affordable Care Act of 2010. Californians can purchase quality, comprehensive, brand-name health and dental insurance for themselves and their families and qualify for financial help based on annual income.
- Open Enrollment lasts from November 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025.
- To enroll, click here to start your online application.
- Visit your nearest Certified Enroller in-person in Alameda or Oakland, or call (800) 300-1506.
If you are a current Medi-Cal recipient who has received a letter notifying you that your income level no longer qualifies for Medi-Cal, click here to learn about the transition process to Covered California.
Section 2: Now Eligible - Recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
On May 2, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized an expansion of the definition of “lawfully present” – a necessary condition for enrolling through the insurance marketplaces – to include recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
Similar to other California consumers, DACA recipients must now maintain coverage or pay the penalty unless they qualify for an exemption. Californians whose household income falls below the tax filing threshold are exempt from the requirement to maintain qualifying coverage. Most exemptions are claimed at tax time on the FTB Form 3853.
- Open Enrollment lasts from November 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025.
- To enroll, click here to start your online application.
- Visit your nearest Certified Enroller in person in Alameda or Oakland, or call (800) 300-1506.
Section 3: How Medicare Drug Coverage Changes Will Impact You in 2025
In 2022, Congress changed Medicare Part D to help beneficiaries manage out-of-pocket costs and better afford their medications through the Inflation Reduction Act (2023).
Starting in January 2025, a new benefit called the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan allows beneficiaries to opt into a payment option to spread out their costs—up to the new $2,000 maximum limit that Medicare participants can be charged for prescription drugs—into monthly installments, with no interest or fees. This allows prescription medication costs at the pharmacy to be broken up into smaller monthly payments that could assist those on a fixed income to keep up with prescription costs.
This is a free service, but Medicare enrollees must act now to take advantage of the plan by enrolling in the program. The Medicare Open Enrollment period – from October 15 through December 7 – is the first opportunity for beneficiaries to sign up for the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. However, the payment plan can be enrolled at any time following Open Enrollment.
To learn more about these changes by the Alliance for Aging Research, click here. Information is also available in Spanish.
To find plan information or compare plans, click here or call 1-800-MEDICARE
Learn more and get answers to common questions in the Tips for Medicare Part D Open Enrollment. If you have any questions about navigating Medicare, please contact my district office at (510) 286-1670 or by visiting my website so we can connect you with a Medicare professional.