Just under 8% of Californians lacked health insurance as of 2019, per data from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). That amounts to slightly over 3 million people. In 2021, KFF estimated how many of the still-uninsured could get a marketplace plan in the Golden State and found that over 1.3 million people qualified for marketplace coverage.
Marketplace coverage is the kind that’s regulated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It includes 10 essential health benefits, protections for people with pre-existing conditions and a host of other consumer protections as well.
California runs its own health insurance exchange (i.e. marketplace) at CoveredCA.com. Most states use the federal exchange at HealthCare.gov. But you don’t have to use the state’s exchange to find insurance. You can also use a private marketplace, like ours.
Regardless of where you shop, you may be able to save money with an advance premium tax credit, a feature of the ACA. These credits, also known as premium subsidies, are available to anyone with an income of 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level.
According to KFF, about 12% of people without health insurance in California who qualify for marketplace coverage could get a bronze plan for free thanks to subsidies.
The nonprofit also crunched the numbers on average premiums for 2021. In California, the lowest cost bronze plan averages to $323 a month. For silver, it’s $400 and for gold, it’s $444. These amounts do not include subsidies.
Using data from our own marketplace, we found that a person living in Anaheim with an annual income of $37,000 could find a bronze plan for as low as $178.50 a month. Of course, costs and availability depend on where you live and your own situation.
California has at least 11 health insurers offering marketplace coverage in 2021. Among them are Anthem, Molina, Kaiser Permanente (not affiliated with the nonprofit), Oscar, and BlueCross BlueShield of CA.
Note that while there’s no longer a federal mandate for health insurance, there is a state requirement in California. That means that unless you qualify for an exception, you have to have health insurance in California or pay a penalty.
Sources
Kaiser Family Foundation, “Health Insurance Coverage of the Total Population”
Kaiser Family Foundation, “Marketplace Eligibility Among the Uninsured: Implications for a Broadened Enrollment Period and ACA Outreach” (January 27, 2021)
Kaiser Family Foundation, “Average Marketplace Premiums by Metal Tier, 2018-2021”
Kaiser Family Foundation, “Insurer Participation on the ACA Marketplaces, 2014-2021” (November 23, 2020)