Covered California is a state-run marketplace for health insurance in California. The marketplace was created as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare.
If you’re applying for coverage through Covered California, you’ll need to provide some documentation to verify your eligibility for subsidies. The process can take a few weeks, so it’s important to start early.
Here’s an overview of what you need to do and how long it will take:
1. Gather your documents. You’ll need to provide proof of citizenship or legal residency, income, and any current health insurance coverage. See the full list of required documents here.
2. Submit your application online or by mail. If you apply online, you can upload your supporting documents electronically. Otherwise, you’ll need to mail them in with your paper application.
3. Wait for a decision from Covered California . Once they receive your completed application and supporting documents, they’ll determine if you qualify for subsidies and send you a notice within two weeks letting you know the next steps.
4 If you qualify for subsidies…If Covered California determines that you are eligible for financial assistance, they will send you an enrollment packet with information on how to choose a health plan . This step can take another two weeks .
5 …if you don’t qualify for subsidiesIf Covered California determines thatyou are not eligiblefor financial assistance ,they will sendyou aninformation packetwith instructions on howto purchasea health plan directly from an insurer without the helpof the marketplace .You can also shop around outside of Covered Californiato find an affordable health plan on your own .This step should only takea few days .
6 Get started with your new coverage!Onceyou have selecteda health planand enrolledin it ,yourcoveragewill beginonthe first dayof the followingmonth