How to get health insurance in California 
To obtain health insurance coverage , you may contact an agent that is licensed in California . Some agents may sell health insurance for different companies , while others may be restricted to only one company . Or , you may go online to the health companys website . To obtain the most accurate quote , have ready your residence address , the age or date of birth of everyone needing insurance , and possibly a list of any major medical conditions that may effect your policy . If you have a preferred health care provider , be sure that the plan you are looking at is accepted by your doctor and hospital that you prefer using . Once youve decided on where you want your coverage from and what you want covered , you will need to submit an application . Most companies do these online or over the phone . Expect the application process to take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour , depending on questions asked and the answers provided . Information needed will include names , dates of birth , social security numbers , drivers licenses , medical conditions and a list of current medications . Some companies will follow up with reports from your health care providers . Once all information has been reviewed by the health insurance company , a policy will be sent . In some cases a counter proposal may be sent . Your insurance agent will go over the proposal with you and will let you know what steps need to be done to complete the policy . 