Covered California Health Insurance

Covered California is the health insurance marketplace for the state of California. This is available for residents of California so they can find affordable health insurance. As part of this service, residents can choose from a variety of insurance plans, so they get the most affordable and best coverage for their circumstances. When Californians apply for health insurance through Covered California, their application may be routed to Medi-Cal, the low-cost or free insurance option in California, if they qualify financially.

Finding a health plan can be confusing. At Acceptance Insurance, we have bilingual agents who can help you navigate through the maze of health insurance options for free. Call us at 877-423-5651 to find out if you qualify.

“COVERED CALIFORNIA”, “CALIFORNIA HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE”, AND THE COVERED CALIFORNIA LOGO ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OR SERVICE MARKS OF COVERED CALIFORNIA, IN THE UNITED STATES.

California’s health marketplace is open to all residents, except those receiving Medicare. If you already have insurance through an employer, but you feel it costs too much, you should check to see if you can find a cheaper plan through Covered California. Others who qualify include:

• U.S. citizens and nationals
• Green card holders (permanent residents)
• Lawful temporary residents
• Refugees and asylees
• Humanitarian immigrants
• DACA recipients
• Non-immigrants with student or worker visas

California charges a penalty for anyone who lives in California, files taxes, and does not have health insurance.

Eligibility for Covered California depends on several factors, including where you live, your citizenship or immigration status, household size, income, and access to other health coverage. California residents who are U.S. citizens or have a qualifying immigration status may be able to enroll in a Covered California plan. Your income and access to other coverage will also determine whether you qualify for financial help or Medi-Cal.

Eligibility for free or low-cost Medi-Cal is based primarily on household income and size, although other factors may also apply. For example:

• Income: Most adults may qualify for Medi-Cal with household income up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), while children may qualify with household income up to 266% of the FPL.
• Other assistance programs: Participation in programs such as CalFresh, SSI/SSP, CalWORKs, Refugee Assistance, or Foster Care and Adoption Assistance may also affect Medi-Cal eligibility.
• Other eligibility factors: Age, pregnancy, disability, household circumstances, and other eligibility rules may affect the type of Medi-Cal coverage available. For certain groups, including some adults age 65 or older and people with disabilities, Medi-Cal may also consider assets when determining eligibility.

One free way to determine if you qualify for free health insurance in California is to call Acceptance Insurance at 877-423-5651. Our bilingual agents will walk you through applying for health insurance and find out if you qualify for free or low-cost care.

Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from Nov. 1, 2026, through Jan. 31, 2027. During this time, anyone who qualifies for health insurance through California’s health marketplace may apply. To have coverage start Jan. 1, 2027, enroll by Dec. 31, 2026. If you enroll in January, coverage generally begins Feb. 1, 2027.

If you miss Open Enrollment, you may only apply for a Covered CA health plan if you have a life-changing event that qualifies you for Special Enrollment. Applying for free or low-cost health care through Medi-Cal is available all year long.

Applying for Covered CA health insurance is a simple process with the help of Acceptance agents, but you can gather some documents you will need to answer questions. Some of these documents will also need to be submitted with your application. They include:

• Social Security numbers for all household members
• Birthdates
• Income information, such as paystubs and tax returns
• Current health insurance information
• Documents verifying your citizenship or legal immigrant status

In some cases, your income may qualify you for financial help in the form of a monetary stipend. In this way, you will receive affordable care that is partially paid for by the government. At the end of the year when you file your taxes, if you have received too much help based on your income, you may owe money. On the other hand, if you have not received enough help, you may receive a refund.

This health insurance marketplace offers four levels of care through tiers. For those who do not qualify for free care through Medi-Cal, you can still receive very affordable care through California’s marketplace. These four levels determine the amount of the premium, plus the amount of out-of-pocket expenses, as well as the type of coverage you’ll receive. The levels are:

• Platinum: Highest premium, but pays 90% of health care expenses
• Gold: Pays 80% of health care expenses
• Silver: Pays 70% of health care expenses
• Bronze: Lowest premium, but pays 60% of covered health expenses

According to California state law, your plan must contain legally required minimum coverage to avoid a tax penalty. Call an Acceptance agent to find out if you qualify for a free or low-cost health insurance plan.

Yes. California requires residents to have qualifying health coverage or qualify for an exemption. If you go without coverage, you may owe a state tax penalty when you file your California income tax return.

For the 2025 tax year, the penalty is generally the higher of either $950 per adult and $475 per dependent child or 2.5% of household income above the state filing threshold. For example, a family of four with two adults and two dependent children could face a flat penalty of $2,850 or more, depending on household income. The California Franchise Tax Board determines the final amount based on your household and income.

You can cancel your plan at any time. For example, if you are hired by an employer that offers health insurance benefits, you may want to cancel your Covered CA plan. You may cancel for any reason.

However, if you want to make changes to your plan, you’ll have to wait for Open Enrollment to come back around unless you have a qualifying life change that makes you eligible for Special Enrollment. Some things that qualify for Special Enrollment include:

• Losing your health insurance because of job loss or another reason
• Moving
• Getting married or having a baby
• Income falling below a certain level

*Disclaimer: Eligibility for California residents centered on American Rescue Plan expanded Marketplace subsidies based on federal poverty level. Restrictions apply. Freeway Insurance Services America, LLC. Licensed as Accident and Health Broker (CA License #6002326). Other rates, service fees, restrictions, and charges may apply.

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