Your Next Chapter, Covered

Find an affordable health insurance plan with benefits you need to thrive with Covered California

Congratulations, you’re well on your way towards adulthood.

Whether you graduated college or you just turned 26, you have a lot ahead of you. Health insurance may not be something you’re thinking about — but it’s one of the most important ways to protect your long-term prospects.

“When you have health insurance, you’re setting yourself up for success,” said Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman. “You’re not only covering your physical and mental health, but you’re also protecting your finances in case the unexpected happens. If you’ve just graduated from college or are turning 26, you may be eligible to enroll during Covered California’s ongoing special-enrollment period.”

Certain major life changes — like graduating college, turning 26 and losing insurance through your parents, getting married or moving to a new area — open up what’s called a special-enrollment period. That’s the time when you can shop for health insurance plans that meet your needs and budget.

Covered California’s special-enrollment period only lasts for a limited time following these major life changes. The sooner you act, the better.

This year, more than 540,000 young adults in California aged 18 to 34 have health insurance through Covered California, like Maria from San Jose. She uses her plan to manage her type 1 diabetes.

“I got Covered California coverage, and it was very helpful. I have been always concerned about emergencies, if I have to go to [the] emergency room or anything like that. I know it is very expensive,” Maria said. “I just need to make sure I can afford the basics, and my basics are the most expensive.”

Every plan offered through Covered California includes a comprehensive package of items and services, known officially as essential health benefits. That means every plan covers things like prescription medications, wellness screenings, emergency and hospital services and even mental health treatment.

“Having health insurance is about much more than just going to the doctor and getting yearly checkups,” said Covered California Chief Medical Officer Dr. Monica Soni. “It’s about having peace of mind knowing that the care you deserve is covered — everything from lab work to mental health care. If you’re young and maybe new to health insurance, it’s worth it to find a plan that gives you a healthy foundation for your next chapter.”

Simply visit CoveredCA.com and enter some basic information, like your age, income and location. From there, you can compare plans in your area, see estimated monthly costs, explore services that are covered and see what financial help is available to you.

To enroll, you must qualify for Covered California’s special-enrollment period. In addition to losing health insurance from being removed from your parent’s health plan or a school-sponsored plan, the following circumstances are among the more common reasons people become eligible for special enrollment:

• Losing or changing jobs
• Getting married or entering a domestic partnership
• Having a baby or adopting a child
• Losing health insurance
• Moving and gaining access to new health plans through Covered California that were not available where you previously lived
• Gaining citizenship or lawful presence

Continue your positive momentum and get a healthy start to your next era — with affordable, brand-name health insurance through Covered California.

Learn more about your options by visiting CoveredCA.com, or you can:

• Get free and confidential assistance over the phone, in a variety of languages, from one of more than 14,000 certified agents and community-based organizations throughout the state that provide free, confidential help.
• Have a certified enroller call you and help you for free.

Call Covered California to enroll at (800) 300-1506.