Obamacare signups continue in Valley despite GOP promises to repeal law

Some residents are signing up for Obamacare or renewing their Covered California health plans, despite the promises of President-elect Donald Trump and fellow Republicans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

Consumers face an enrollment deadline at midnight Thursday if they want their Obamacare coverage to begin Jan. 1.

Covered California, the state insurance exchange that started providing coverage through the ACA in 2014, had 1.4 million people enrolled this year, with the vast majority taking advantage of subsidies that lower their monthly premiums.

The exchange said 1.2 million have renewed their coverage for 2017, and 139,000 new enrollees have signed up, including 11,000-plus on Monday. Coverage will begin in February or March for anyone missing the Thursday night deadline, as an enrollment period continues through Jan. 31.

“Coverage matters, and we have a competitive market that is working for millions of Californians and bringing health care within reach,” said Peter Lee, Covered California’s executive director.

According to data from the California Health Care Foundation, about 20,000 residents of Stanislaus County have insurance through Covered California to help with the costs of seeing a doctor or visiting a hospital.

On average, consumers can expect to see an 8 percent rate increase next year for Obamacare plans in a five-county pricing region that includes Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Merced, Mariposa and Tulare counties. Federal tax breaks lower the insurance costs for close to 95 percent of Covered California customers in the region.

Republican leaders have said they could repeal significant parts of Obamacare next year and then implement the decision with a replacement plan over the next two or three years.

Sandi Guajardo, 63, said she had Obamacare coverage for two years after going without insurance for five years in the days when insurers could base coverage denials on health history and insurance costs were out of reach for many. She used the health plan to catch up on preventive medicine exams, she said.

“I think there are many good aspects of it for someone like me who was self-employed and insurance was very expensive,” said Guajardo of Turlock. “I hate to see it go away. There will be many people hurt when it is done away with.”

Some people debated the merits of the ACA on The Modesto Bee’s Facebook page. Alexandra Kozicki thanked President Obama for the many uninsured Americans who obtained insurance for less than $100 a month this past year.

Chris Lee of Modesto, writing that he’s coming back from a work-related injury, countered that Covered California charged more than he wanted to pay.

“For the government to ask me for $300-plus (per month) for something I don’t want is ridiculous,” Lee wrote, adding it was less costly paying the penalty for being uninsured.

A comment from another reader said his insurance premiums tripled under Obamacare. “I can’t wait till it’s gone and real health reform happens in 2017,” Norm Wolff of Modesto wrote.

Individuals and families can enroll in health coverage or find local enrollment assistance at www.coveredca.com, or call 800-300-1506.

This story was originally published December 13, 2016 at 6:58 PM with the headline "Obamacare signups continue in Valley despite GOP promises to repeal law."