Covered California bus makes stop in Modesto to promote health care coverage

The Covered California bus stopped Wednesday at Modesto’s McHenry Village on the 10th day of a scheduled nine-day tour of the state.

The health benefits exchange extended the tour for an extra day to deliver the feel-good message that affordable health insurance is available for all.

The second sign-up period for coverage through the Affordable Care Act began Saturday and continues through Feb.15. For coverage to start Jan.1, applicants need to finish enrollment by Dec.15.

The federal government’s individual mandate is getting tougher on folks who lack insurance. Adults who were not insured this year face penalties of $95 per adult or up to $285 per family when they file their federal income taxes for 2014. The penalties are $325 per adult and up to $975 per household for those without insurance in 2015 and $695 per adult and up to $2,085 per family for 2016.

Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee said 3.4million state residents obtained health insurance or Medi-Cal benefits after the historic launch of the ACA last year, lowering the state’s uninsured rate from more than 20percent to 11percent.

This fall, the state’s only source for subsidized health plans is stressing enrollment through community partners such as the Center for Human Services at McHenry Village, which co-hosted the Modesto visit. The center said it has staff helping applicants in Modesto, Ceres, Oakdale, Patterson and Newman.

The exchange also is working with county social services and private brokers to provide enrollment assistance in customers’ own languages.

Lee said face-to-face appointments with enrollment counselors are ideal for making complex and personal decisions about health insurance. “These are our friends and neighbors in Modesto who share our commitment to make sure no one is left behind,” Lee said.

The exchange also has online enrollment at www.CoveredCA.com and three service centers working with applicants over the phone. Lee said the biggest challenge for the current campaign is overcoming disbelief that affordable coverage is within reach, regardless of how much a family or individual earns.

Four insurers offer health plans through the exchange in Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Merced counties. People eligible for the largest subsidies can buy insurance for $30 a month or less and pay a $3 copayment when they see a doctor. Insurers are prevented by law from denying applicants.

Yamilit Valladolid, Modesto site supervisor for El Concilio, said the nonprofit group is promoting health coverage in the Latino community. She said the higher tax penalty for 2015 is one motivation for getting coverage. She also found some applicants who ran into hassles or dropped the ball during the program’s rocky debut, and are trying again this fall.

“There were problems last year,” Valladolid said.

This story was originally published November 19, 2014 at 8:52 PM with the headline "Covered California bus makes stop in Modesto to promote health care coverage."