Figure 1. California’s uninsured rate reached an all-time low in 2023
Open enrollment begins with a record-low uninsured rate of 6.4 percent among Californians, according to federal data. Since Covered California’s first open-enrollment period in 2013, California’s uninsured rate has fallen from 17.2 percent to 6.4 percent in 2023, which is the largest percentage point drop for any state in the nation during the Affordable Care Act era.
Californians continue to sign up for coverage at a historic rate. In Southern California – Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange counties – enrollment is up over 21 percent in the past four years, with over 863,000 Californians now enrolled in these four counties.
But the latest data from the California Simulation of Insurance Markets (CalSIM), a model created by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, also shows that significant gaps remain between those with and without insurance. CalSIM estimates that there are nearly 1.3 million uninsured Californians who either qualify for subsidies through Covered California (591,000) or are eligible for Medi-Cal coverage (675,000), and they reside all over the state.
Figure 2. Nearly 1.3 million uninsured Californians are eligible for financial help
If they sign up for coverage, the subsidy-eligible 591,000 uninsured Californians can receive significant financial help that will lower the cost of their monthly health insurance premiums.
In Southern California, there are 632,000 uninsured Californians who are eligible for Covered California subsidies (280,000) or no-cost Medi-Cal coverage (352,000).
Covered California research shows that 23 percent of current consumers will have a $0 monthly premium in 2025 if they keep their current plan, a jump from 20 percent this year. Nearly 90 percent of Covered California’s enrollees receive financial help. Currently, two-thirds of Covered California’s consumers are eligible for comprehensive health insurance at a cost of $10 or less per month, and nearly half could get a comprehensive Silver plan for that price.
Figure 3. Majority of Covered California consumers are eligible for health plans for $10 or less per month
“Let’s talk health” literacy campaign
Research shows that many Californians don’t understand what Covered California actually does, how health insurance works or how to maximize their plan benefits. This lack of health literacy can contribute to individuals not signing up for health care coverage.
To promote health literacy and provide consumers with more information, Covered California’s “Let’s Talk Health” campaign includes a suite of new materials that reflect cultural insights and more simplified language to demystify health insurance and provide information to consumers who have questions about the basics. Through a partnership with health literacy expert Dr. Dean-David Schillinger of University of California, San Francisco, Covered California is maximizing evidence-based approaches to support consumer education.
“We want to simplify the complex and confusing so everyone can speak the language of health — regardless of their language, ethnicity, geography or income,” Altman said. “This understanding will help all consumers feel empowered to enroll and start using their coverage.”
The need for help and information about Covered California is even greater when English is a second language. According to data from UCLA’s California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), approximately two million Californians have limited English proficiency, and they are more than twice as likely to be uninsured.
Subsequently, Covered California has also launched a “Let’s Talk Health” webpage with resources in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Korean, Vietnamese and Farsi to provide consumers a digital information option.
Signing up for coverage Is easy
Consumers can learn more about their options by visiting CoveredCA.com, where they can easily find out if they qualify for financial help and see the coverage options in their area. Those interested in learning more about their coverage options can also:
- Get free and confidential assistance over the phone, in a variety of languages, from one of more than 14,000 certified agents and community-based organizations throughout the state that provide free, confidential help in whatever language or dialect consumers prefer.
- Have a certified enroller call them and help them for free.
- Call Covered California at (800) 300-1506.
The deadline to select a health plan and have coverage for all of 2025 is Dec. 31.
