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President Biden issued an executive order today, reopening enrollment in the federal Affordable Care Act exchange because of the pandemic. The executive order calls for that enrollment to run Feb. 15 through May 15.
California, which has its own state-run marketplace, Covered California, will open its special enrollment period Feb. 1. It will run through May 15, to align with the federal government.
Anyone who is uninsured and eligible for healthcare can sign up. The new special-enrollment period will allow uninsured individuals to sign up for coverage without the normal "qualifying life events," like a recent loss of coverage or moving.
Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee explains:
"The action taken by the Biden Harris administration marks a significant change for the country, and the change of course in federal leadership. This will help millions of Americans get health care coverage during the worst health care crisis in a century."
Covered Califorina's current open enrollment period runs through the end of the January, for coverage starting Feb. 1.
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