10.4 Percent of Newark Residents Uninsured, Survey Reports

by Patch Staff

The deadline to enroll for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act is drawing near. For coverage that starts on Jan. 1, people need to enroll by Dec. 23, and the first payment needs to be received by Jan. 6. 

Estimates released Wednesday by the American Community Survey show which parts of the East Bay are the most in need of health insurance. In Newark 10.4 percent of residents are uninsured. 

The five-year estimate of Alameda County residents without health insurance was 12.4 percent. Statewide, 18 percent of residents lacked health insurance during the same period. 

According to Covered California, the state-managed health benefit exchange implementing the Affordable Care Act in California, 22,166 people in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties enrolled in health insurance plans. 

In October, Covered California projected between 487,000 and 696,000 Californians who qualify for subsidies will have enrolled in an insurance program by April 2014. 

Have questions about Obamacare? Consult National Public Radio's comprehensive and frequently updated Q and A.