Health Care Reform coverage roundup

During the Open Enrollment period, the media periodically check in on the progress of Covered California and Medi-Cal sign-ups, as in these three stories from Noozhawk.

This 2/12/15 story reminds people of the end date for open enrollment, and compares enrollment volume for 2014 vs 2015. Our Deputy Director Maria Gardner notes that in about one year, we exceeded our three-to-five-year Medi-Cal enrollment goal.   

http://www.noozhawk.com/article/enrollment_deadline_sunday_for_covered_california_health_insurance

This 1/20/15 story reports on input to the Board of Supervisors from the heads of PHD, ADMHS, and DSS. Our Director Daniel Nielson shares figures indicating that 30% of our current Medi-Cal recipients joined the rolls since Health Care Reform took effect in October 2013, and that the Medi-Cal backlog we face due to statewide computer glitches is down by 96% from its peak.

http://www.noozhawk.com/article/county_processing_thousands_of_newly_insured_after_aca_roll_out

This 11/10/14 story looks at strong growth in demand for health care coverage and services over the first year of Health Care Reform. In the story, Public Health reports that only 13% of their clinic clients now self-pay for care with no coverage of any kind, down from 28% the year before. We at DSS report that Medi-Cal enrollment growth has been strongest among South Coast residents, and among working-age single childless adults who were ineligible prior to the expansion of Medi-Cal under Health Care Reform. One in five SB and SLO county residents now have coverage under Medi-Cal. 

http://www.noozhawk.com/article/santa_barbara_county_providers_struggle_to_keep_up_with_higher_healthcare_d