FRESNO – Despite national conversations about the uncertain future of health care subsidies and eligibility, state and local officials want Californians to know they can still access affordable coverage.
Community leaders in Fresno joined officials from Covered California on Nov. 13 to spread the word about open enrollment and the many options residents have when it comes to finding health insurance. Executive Director Jessica Altman said Covered California is “laser-focused” on connecting with residents where they are throughout the open enrollment period, which lasts through Jan. 31, 2026.
“At our core, Covered California is a network of trusted guides throughout our communities who are making health insurance more personal, equitable and rooted in care, all of the love of California,” Altman said.
Covered California, the name for the California Health Benefit Exchange, is the state’s health insurance marketplace formed under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The service connects individuals and small businesses to brand-name health insurance, allowing Californians to shop around for their insurance, compare prices and enroll in the plan that best suits their needs.
Covering California
Since open enrollment began on Nov. 1, Covered California has been touring the state to spread awareness of the tools available to California residents. The theme for this year’s open enrollment kickoff tour has been “connectors to coverage,” Altman said, highlighting how the exchange uses outreach and community partnerships to ensure Californians stay informed, insured and healthy.
“We’ve learned something after doing this for now 13 years: It’s genuine connection that gets people covered,” Altman said. “The connection between a consumer and their navigator, between a doctor and a patient, between someone who is uninsured and the friend, neighbor or family member they rely on to guide them.”
Altman said Covered California has a statewide network of more than 14,000 agents and community partners that help people enroll, stay covered each year and use their benefits. Individuals can apply online at coveredca.com, over the phone, by mail or in person through a certified enroller in their community.
Fresno County District 3 Supervisor Luis Chavez noted that Covered California has one of its largest offices in the state in Fresno, meaning when individuals contact the call center, they truly could be talking to one of their neighbors.
Altman added that, yes, when people contact the call center, they will be connected with actual people on the other end. Further, they’ll be connected with people who speak their language, with more than a dozen different language options.
One of Covered California’s community partners, Clinica Sierra Vista, hosted Covered California officials for the open enrollment press conference at its Elm Community Health Center in southwest Fresno. As a partner, Clinica Sierra Vista enrolled more than 2,600 patients and families in the last year and helped with more than 3,100 coverage renewals, CEO Dr. Olga Meave said.
“With every patient that gets covered, there is an opportunity for a better quality of life, not just for that person, but the generations after them,” Meave said.
Meave also spoke on the importance of preventative care, which is incorporated into every health plan offered through Covered California, Altman said.
Facing higher premiums
Visiting Fresno the morning after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to end the federal government shutdown without any guarantees of extending the enhanced premium tax credit that has provided qualifying individuals with lowered premiums, Altman acknowledged that there are “uniquely challenging circumstances” surrounding open enrollment this year.
The tax credit in question is set to expire on Dec. 31, and with it, monthly costs will rise, on average, by 97% for the 1.7 million people who are enrolled and receiving financial assistance through Covered California.
Hoping to extend the tax credit was the main reason Democrats in the United States Senate were not signing the budget bill to continue to fund the federal government. However, some eventually did in order to end the shutdown.
Altman said Congress could still take action to extend the tax credits, but the future is unknown.
“I have already heard from retirees facing the highest premium increases in the state, from parents who are juggling medical bills and other bills in their life, from young adults considering going without insurance and small business owners uncertain if they can continue to make it on their own with a higher cost of coverage,” Altman said.
The state of California has stepped in to provide some financial relief, allocating $190 million to keep monthly premiums “reasonable for our lowest income enrollees,” Altman said, but the enhanced premium tax credits represent $2.5 billion per year in federal funding for the state.
“We know that many of our enrollees will face challenging decisions about their health and their household budget as a result,” Altman said. “We will do whatever we can to help Californians get and keep the health insurance they need.”
Those who need insurance or already have insurance but want to look for a cheaper plan can use the shop and compare tool on the Covered California website. Covered California can also be reached at 800-300-1506.
