How to be Ready for the California Insurance Exchange!

The Affordable Care Act is also known as ObamaCare. January 1, 2014 is a landmark day. The national and California Health Insurance Markets will change dramatically. Why? The ACA mandates that ALL Americans and legal residents must be enrolled in medical insurance or pay a penalty (some exemptions apply). Our web site is designed to be your advocate, provide valuable and simple to understand guidelines and answer the basic questions most California residents have regarding the ACA. Information such as how the mandate will affect you, penalties, government subsidies, and choosing the best health insurance options for you and your family.

Important Dates: October 1, 2013

Effective October 1, 2013 the California Health Insurance “Exchange” will be open for Individual, Family and Group Health Insurance. It is called “COVERED CALIFORNIA”. In this new market, you can shop for health plans, compare carriers and premiums and see if you are eligible for a Federal Subsidy. California estimates that 3-5 million consumers will shop and be insured through this new program. Our recommendation is not to wait until the end of 2013 to shop. Quotes are available through our web site starting October 1 2013.

What is the “CA Insurance Exchange Market”?

The “CA Insurance Exchange” is a new market where insurance carriers will compete for your business. The health insurance plans provided by the insurance carriers are required to meet government mandated benefit levels. You are not required to purchase your health insurance in the Exchange in 2014. You may keep your company group health plan or in certain situations you may be able to keep your individual health plan depending on when it was purchased. However, in order to qualify for a subsidy you must purchase your policy through the CA Insurance Exchange. You can do so directly through our site. For more information click on “My Plan Options” in 2014.

Have any of the ACA Mandates already taken affect?

The Affordable Care Act was passed in to law in March of 2010. Its intent was to be fully implemented as of January 2014. However, there were some of the provisions that went in to affect prior to 2014. Some of them include:

  • Children under age 19 are guaranteed to be approved for health insurance, regardless of their medical status and without medical underwriting.
  • Children up to age 26 may stay under their parents’ health policy.
  • Preventive care services have been standardized. These benefits are covered in full, without a co-pay or deductible according to the national guideline.

Health Care Reform: California and the Nation

California was the first state to agree and sign up to run an Insurance Exchange. ‘Covered California’ is scheduled to open on October 1, 2013. Nationwide, a total of 19 states decided to create their own Insurance Exchange, 25 states defaulted to the Federal Exchange, and 7 are planning for a Partnership Exchange. For additional information on how Healthcare Reform will affect different people, click The Pros and Cons of Health Care Reform.

We will continue to update this website as new information is made available. CaliforniaExchangePlans.com