Covered California Reminds New Parents They Can Add a Baby to Health Coverage Anytime

Press release from Covered California:

Having a baby or adopting a child is one of life’s greatest joys, but it also comes with a lifetime of responsibility. From making sure they get enough to eat, to ensuring they get good quality, safe sleep, there is a lot to worry about in the early days of parenting.

Health insurance may not be something you’re thinking about right now, but getting yourself and your child enrolled in a high-quality health plan is one of the most important things you can do as a parent.

Whether it’s your first child or your fifth, Covered California is here to help.

“As a parent of a toddler, I know how important those first few months are to bond and to give our children the healthy foundation for a long, happy life,” said Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman. “There are many decisions parents have to make in the early days, and making sure children and parents get enrolled in a health insurance plan is one of the best things you can do for your growing family.”

Whether you gave birth to or adopted your new child, you may be eligible to enroll during Covered California’s ongoing special-enrollment period. This is the time outside of open enrollment when you can sign up for health insurance if you’ve recently experienced certain life changes.

“Getting your child the care they need early in life supports healthy development, helps keep them up to date on recommended immunizations and prepares them for a strong, healthy start in the world,” said Covered California Chief Medical Officer Dr. Monica Soni. “That starts with getting your child insured with a health plan, and Covered California offers financial help to those who qualify.”

This year, more than 141,000 children in California are enrolled in a health plan through Covered California. That’s tens of thousands of California parents who have ensured that their children have a healthy foundation built on quality health insurance that covers all the essentials and more.

Many parents are also looking to Covered California for themselves so they can be there for their kids by taking care of their own health — parents like Nulu in Los Angeles. She takes care of her son while she looks for a job and her husband works. She recently had gallbladder surgery and is managing symptoms of postpartum depression, so she relies on her plan through Covered California to help take care of both her physical and mental health.

“We truly need health care and good health care, but at the same time, we don’t want it to stretch our pockets,” said Nulu. “I have a family of three surviving with one income. It would really stretch us. It would be difficult.”

Covered California is the only place where Californians who qualify can get financial help on a sliding scale to reduce premium costs. All health plans offered through Covered California come with free preventive care for you and your child, with access to different networks and doctors, plus optional children’s dental insurance.

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.

In addition to having a baby or adopting a child, the following circumstances are among the more common reasons people become eligible for Covered California’s special-enrollment period, when you can apply for coverage within 60 days of a major life change like:

• Losing or changing jobs
• Getting married or entering a domestic partnership
• Being removed from your parent’s health plan or a school-sponsored plan
• 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

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.