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Affordable Care Act/Covered California Resource Page

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Affordable Insurance is a National Priority

In 2010, the federal government approved a law — the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Affordable Care Act) — to increase the number of Americans with health insurance and cut the cost of health care.

The law is important to Californians because it provides financial assistance to help individuals and small businesses pay for health insurance. Those who already have affordable health insurance don’t need to take any action, unless they lose their coverage for certain reasons, such as the loss of a job.

To help those without health insurance get covered, the Affordable Care Act included a requirement that states either set up their own marketplace for people to buy health insurance or have one set up by the federal government.

These marketplaces will offer one-stop shops where people can compare health insurance plans and buy the plan that works best for them, their family and their budget. California chose to set up its own marketplace — Covered California™ — as its doorway to health coverage.

The law requires that most adults have health insurance or pay a fine starting in 2014.

Getting California Covered

Covered California is the easy-to-use marketplace where most Californians can buy health coverage that cannot be denied by health insurance companies or canceled if they are sick or have a pre-existing health condition, such as asthma or diabetes.

Click the links below to access important information on Covered California, and how it will affect you: