Covered California comes to La Familia Counseling Center

Spotlight campaign pushes to get an additional 750,000 to enroll.

L to R: Gloria Torres, Rachel Rios, Peter Lee, Assemb. Kevin McCarty

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On its last leg of a 38-stop tour, the Covered California’s bus with Executive Director Peter V. Lee held a small rally at La Familia Counseling Center on Thursday, promoting enrollment.  La Familia is one of several key locations in Sacramento where individuals can enroll before the January 31, 2016 deadline.  But, the main purpose of the tour is to get individuals enrolled before December 15 to ensure coverage beginning January 1.

Covered California is spotlighting enrollment because an estimated 2.2 million uninsured Californians remain eligible to get help to make their insurance affordable by enrolling in either Covered California or Medi-Cal. An estimated 750,000 uninsured Californians could enroll through Covered California.

“We have made 38 stops and travelled 2,000 miles since the tour began,” Lee told a crowd that had

gathered in front of La Familia.  “We have heard from those who received coverage like Maria in Redding, not her real name, who because of the coverage she received, was able to get proper medical care for uterine cancer.”

Lee stated that the national rate of the uninsured has dropped below 10 percent and California’s uninsured rate is even lower, at 8.6 percent.

“Covered California helps families and individuals receive free or low-cost health insurance,” said La Familia Counseling Center’s Executive Director Rachel Rios.  “We offer enrollment services as part of the many services offered here at La Familia.

“Our message of putting the spotlight on coverage has spread all over the state with the help of hospitals, counties, community clinics, agent storefronts and our Navigators,” added Lee. “These partners are on the front lines each day and see the true impact having affordable health care coverage means in their communities.”

In the weeks ahead, Covered California will continue to spotlight the fact that open enrollment continues through Jan. 31, but the exchange is encouraging consumers to sign up before Dec. 15 to ensure they have coverage beginning Jan. 1.

“We can’t stress enough that the sooner consumers sign up, the sooner they have access to world-class facilities; high-quality doctors; and real, affordable health care coverage. Enrolling by Dec. 15 guarantees them the peace of mind of knowing they and their family won’t face financial strain should something unforeseen happen,” said Lee.

For additional information or to sign up, you can go to La Familia website at www.lafcc.org or to www.coveredca.com. - SACLATINO