SACRAMENTO — Covered California kicked off 2025 open enrollment and launched its “Let’s Health Talk” campaign across the state today to reach California’s remaining uninsured.
Open Enrollment – which begins today and runs through January 31, 2025 – is when Californians can sign up for, renew or shop for a new health insurance plan. Over 5.9 million Californians have had health insurance through Covered California since the exchange opened its doors in 2014, including nearly 1.8 million who are currently enrolled.
This is the 12th open-enrollment period under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which has helped provide health insurance to tens of millions of Americans and now features increased and expanded financial help for consumers through the Inflation Reduction Act. California’s enhanced cost-sharing reduction program, which will be available to all Covered California enrollees in 2025, is making health care even more affordable for Californians.
“In California, we are maximizing the Affordable Care Act by providing greater access to coverage and quality care to more Californians,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “Reducing out-of-pocket costs for millions of Californians is an important step in creating a healthier California for all.”
Covered California will begin this open enrollment with record-high enrollees and the state’s lowest uninsured rate on record. The “Let’s Talk Health” campaign will focus on health literacy with the goal of simplifying the process of getting covered, removing a known barrier to reaching California’s remaining uninsured, including those newly eligible for Covered California.
In 2025, because of enhanced federal premium support, California’s cost-sharing reduction program and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients now being eligible for coverage, more Californians than ever will be eligible for the most financial assistance ever offered through Covered California.
DACA recipients will be eligible to enroll in Covered California due to a rule change by the Biden-Harris administration[1]. Estimates indicate there are about 40,000 DACA recipients in California that will be eligible for coverage. Covered California will also have a special-enrollment period for DACA recipients that begins on Nov. 1 that will allow them to sign up for coverage for December in addition to enrolling for 2025.
2025’s record-breaking financial support for Californians
California’s cost-sharing reduction program has been bolstered for 2025 by Gov. Newsom and the California Legislature, increasing the amount of state funds available for it to $165 million. As a result, all Californians with incomes above 200 percent of the federal poverty level (which is $30,120 for a single person and $62,400 for a family of four) are now eligible to enroll in an Enhanced Silver 73 plan with no deductibles and reduced out-of-pocket costs, while those under 200 percent of the federal poverty level will continue to have access to higher levels of benefits.
In 2024, the program lowered generic drug costs and copays for medical visits and reduced other out-of-pocket costs for over 800,000 Covered California consumers, and now these benefits are available to all enrollees above 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
“With California’s enhanced cost-sharing reduction program, many of our consumers will have more affordable choices, and they should shop and compare to choose the plan that is best for them and their families,” said Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman. “We also want every uninsured Californian to know that we’re working to make health care more affordable and easier to navigate. This change will further reduce financial barriers to accessing health care and simplify the process of shopping for health insurance.”
