California medical leaders join to boost health insurance enrollment

The California Medical Association and leaders of 13 health care provider groups announced Tuesday they're embarking on a campaign to educate Californians about affordable health insurance available during the Affordable Care Act's current open enrollment season. 

The groups have agreed to send letters and resource materials to their members, including about 100,000 doctors and more than 400 hospitals and medical groups statewide, according to officials at Covered California, the state's health insurance marketplace. 

The materials are designed to help the providers raise awareness among their patients about individual and family health insurance coverage available through Covered California. 

Those who have contracts with health insurance plans sold through the Covered California marketplace are being asked to display a placard reading, "I’m In" to alert patients that they accept such coverage.

And to further promote health insurance coverage, providers are also being asked to send Covered California stories of patients who’ve benefitted from new coverage purchased through the state-run exchange.

For those Californians who qualify, financial assistance is available to offset the cost of monthly insurance premiums - but only if they buy their individual or family health insurance plan through the Covered California marketplace. 

The other groups joining in the campaign with the California Medical Association and Covered California include:  

• Leaders of the California Academy of Family Physicians
• The National Medical Association
• The National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians 
• The California Latino Medical Association 
• The National Hispanic Medical Association 
• The American Academy of Pediatrics (California)
• The American College of Physicians (California chapter)
• The Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of California 
• The California Academy of Physician Assistants 
• The California Pharmacists Association
• The California Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• The California Association of Physician Groups
•  The California Hospital Association

.