Deadline Extended To Enroll In Covered California Health Coverage

The deadline for signing up for Covered California health insurance that begins Jan. 1, 2016 has been extended because of high demand, officials said.

The deadline, initially set for Tuesday, is now midnight on Thursday, Dec 17, according to Covered California officials.

People can enroll online until midnight; call (800) 300-1506 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday; or visit one of many Northern California enrollment locations, officials said.

People can find a location by zip code at www.CoveredCA.com/get-help/local. The website to enroll is www.CoveredCA.com.

The number of people enrolling in the last few days spiked and by the end of the day Tuesday, enrollments this year exceeded last year’s number, according to officials.

Certified enrollers are reporting that they are still processing thousands of applications and the extra time will help ensure consumers are covered for all of 2016.

Signs are posted outside hundreds of locations where consumers can enroll confidentially and for free in multiple languages, according to Covered California officials.

People who enroll after Thursday will have coverage that starts in February or March, 2016 if they enroll by Jan. 31.

-Bay City News Service