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Covered California Director Stops in Chico to Promote Open Enrollment

Covered California is on tour and made a stop in Chico Tuesday. North State Public Radio’s Matt Shilts has more.

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Peter Lee/Crowd: “One, two, three... I’m in!”

That was Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee speaking to a small crowd in the Chico City Plaza yesterday. Lee is leading a nine-day bus tour that’s taking him and his team from Redding to San Diego to get the word out about Covered California’s open enrollment period, which began Saturday.

The “I’m in” refers to Covered California’s social media campaign. Once they’re signed up, people are encouraged to use the “I’m in” hashtag to promote enrollment.

He said the team is especially trying to reach those who have become accustomed to living without insurance. Part of those efforts include a more accessible website, more resources for Californians who speak English as a second language, and dramatically increased staffing for call center and storefront locations.

He said if you make it to Covered C-A dot com…

Lee: “There’s a little button that says ‘Shop and Compare.’ Literally in 30 seconds, you can put in your age, your zip code, how much money you make and how big your family is and bam. You’ll be told what insurance will cost you right here in Chico — or in Redding or Yuba City — based on your zip code what it would cost you and how much financial support you’re going to get. You can find out in 30 seconds.”

Lee added that 90 percent of the people who’ve signed up for Covered California qualified for financial help.

The tax penalty for not enrolling increases in 2015 to $325 per adult or 2 percent of adjusted gross income — whichever is greater.

But, Lee said, the big penalty would be ending up in a hospital without insurance.

The open enrollment period ends February 15.

For North State Public Radio, I’m Matt Shilts.

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