Covered California announced their open enrollment on Monday, November 9. Los Angeles Mayor, Eric Garcetti virtually attended the Webinar meeting, along with many other diverse community leaders, to discuss the importance of accessible healthcare during one of the most unexpected health-related crises seen in our time. There is a new pressure applied to having health coverage and maintaining a fresh perspective on the quality of life.
The virtual event took place before one of the most important discussions happening in the U.S. Supreme Court; referencing the Affordable Care Act which will be the measurement of assistance with health care giving millions access through programs such as Covered California and Medi-Cal. Covered California wants to make health care easy; every plan has a custom development to meet the individual in the middle.
Public leadership gathered to discuss what affordable healthcare means to each individual. Executive Director of Covered California Peter Lee invited the chief executive officer of the California Black Women’s Health Project Sonya Young Aadam, Mayor Garcetti, and many others in public leaders to elaborate on how health care accessibility varies in different communities. Covered California is looking to fill those gaps and provide optimal accessibility for all.
Covered California is looking to be a “marketplace” for anyone in need for health coverage. Operating since 2004, this certified insurance agency can be found online, and the process is described to be simple and quick. The first step is reviewing equitable plans that fit the family budget, transitioning to the application steps. Covered California offers to calculate government subsidies, resulting in finding out the measurement of federal assistance. They are looking to help everyone find a budget that is custom to their needs.
The open enrollment launched one day before the U.S. Supreme Court deliberated on one of the most controversial measurements, the federal reach into public healthcare accessibility. There is new awareness surrounding healthcare; it’s a direct reflection on the quality of life that seems to vary in different ethnic groups. The Affordable Care Act was a bold approach to bring balance to a lack of coverage due to overly-priced health insurance.
Mayor Eric Garcetti virtually attended the webinar meeting along with many other diverse community members in leadership roles, to discuss the importance of accessible healthcare during one of the most unexpected health related crises seen in our time.
In October of 2013, the first open enrollment time was commemorated at the Los Angeles Union Station. Mayor Garcetti reflected on that time, stating, “These are people’s lives. This is a matter of life or death, these are not statistics, these are stories.”
Garcetti went on to explain the touch of humanity the nation’s health care system needs as it’s being considered in the Supreme court. Mayor Garcetti stated, “This has been a year filled with a lot of pain and stress.” He continued, “Covered California will give a range of amazing options, plans that fit your family.”
People are looking for more security in health insurance, with the world entering a new “COVID Era,” the subject of medical affordability and access has taken priority. There is an established understanding that health conditions can change unexpectedly and instantly. The nation’s disparities continue to grow, especially for those who live below the poverty line. COVID-19 highlighted a sad truth; not being able to afford health insurance can have a fatal outcome.
The state of California has reflected their competency of the issue, by utilizing the Affordable Care Act and making it work. Millions of Californians benefited from the funnel to affordable healthcare that Covered California provides. Accessing healthcare should be an obliging experience for all, Covered California has held enrollment events across the state, working with republican and democratic parties, and setting the example for the rest of the nation.
Out of all of the states California shown the urgency for the need of medical availability, by finding a way to accommodate different family budgets and medical needs. Covered California wants to see all of California covered, they contributed 157-million dollars to promote open enrollment dates and contributed masks. The goal for Covered California is for “Everyone to have coverage.”
COVID-19 displayed disproportionate affects among certain racial groups, for example among African American communities, the risk of a fatal outcome due to the coronavirus is 50% higher than it is for White Americans in California. In Latin-X communities, they make up approximately 50% the COVID-19 cases and nearly 60% of all COVID related deaths.
The health care system needs to cover everyone, Covered California is looking to be a prime example on how that can be possible. The focus is to bring awareness to the opportunity for affordable health coverage, by taking the range of family budgets into consideration. There is a more severe emphasis on accessibility since many lives have been lost due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Guests can compare health insurance plans and make a choice that best fit their needs; some people may qualify for the low-cost or no-cost Medi-Cal program. Open enrollment is the time to sign-up and make the family’s well-being, the main priority.
The nation shares the narrative of this abrupt change, therefore all policies moving forward mirror the new ethics and priority; the awareness surrounding healthcare. California has had one of the largest drops in the uninsured population.
Through the virtual event, the masks were highly encouraged to be worn. It was explained that wearing a mask “is not a political statement” but a necessity to keep community transmission at bay. Covered CA has a foundation of “doing the right thing,” that can be displayed by wearing a mask; everyone is held accountable for the protection of others.
The pandemic is shining a new spotlight on an archaic issue, the disparities in life quality that lives among the nation. Covered California believes that these differences in healthcare access should not be accepted. This is a state-wide effort to accommodate all family dynamics, in order for every Californian to be covered with health insurance.
