The state’s online health insurance exchange Covered California opens for businesses Oct. 1. Under the Affordable Care Act, all Americans must have health insurance by Jan. 1 or face a fine. | Photo Credit: Tarryn Mento, KPBS
By Kenny Goldberg
In November, 78,000 Californians enrolled in the state online health insurance exchange .
To date, 403,000 Californians have completed their applications for health insurance online. Exchange officials said a majority of applicants report the process has been easy.
Peter V. Lee, Covered California’s executive director, said last week alone, 50,000 people went all the way to the end and chose a plan.
“That’s 15 times the rate of enrollment we were seeing when we opened our doors in October,” Lee said. “And that momentum is not stopping — it’s building.”
But Lee admits that Latino enrollment remains low. He said the exchange is reviewing its marketing strategy to see if it can be improved.
Californians have until Dec. 23 to sign up for coverage to have health insurance by Jan. 1.
Open enrollment in Covered California for 2014 runs through the end of March.