For 2024 health plans, California open enrollment begins on November 1, 2023 and runs through January 15, 2024. If you enroll by December 15, your coverage will start on January 1, 2024.
Once open enrollment ends, you might qualify for a 60-day special enrollment period that will allow you to sign up for a new health insurance plan. (See What Happens If I Miss the Enrollment Deadline?)
To get covered, you can go directly to the online health insurance marketplace for California. If you need personalized help, you can reach out to an enrollment assistant. Most enrollment helpers are working remotely during the COVID crisis.
Where's the California Health Care Exchange?
You can find the health insurance exchange for California atHealthcare.gov. This is where you can learn about the various health insurance options available to you under the Affordable Care Act. If you see a plan you like, you'll be guided through the enrollment process online.
The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) expanded Medicaid eligibility to include more people who couldn’t otherwise obtain health insurance. As written, the ACA would extend Medicaid to all adults with incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level. (For a single person in California in 2023, that’s $20,120. For a family of four, it’s $41,400.)
However, the U.S. Supreme Court later ruled that it was up to individual states to decide whether to expand Medicaid. As of December 2023, only 10 states have not expanded their programs.
Arkansas Has Expanded Medicaid
Arkansas did decide to expand its Medicaid program. The expansion program is called "Arkansas Works," and it functions differently than Medicaid expansion in most states. Arkansas residents who need health coverage and are eligible for expanded Medicaid will go to the health insurance marketplace at Healthcare.gov. There, they will apply for a private health insurance plan. When they reach the point of purchase, the state Medicaid agency will pay the bill.
The new program originally contained a work requirement, but that was overturned in court and put on pause for now. In September 2021, Arkansas applied to the federal government to replace Arkansas Works with a new program that would require some people to participate in activities to improve their health and economic independence as a requirement of receiving benefits. This application is pending.
Get Help Finding a Health Insurance Plan in California
Get Help From California's Health Insurance Exchange
The following links and telephone numbers take you to the official help resources for Healthcare.gov, the health insurance marketplace for California.
Help by phone: 800-318-2596 (TTY: 855-889-4325)
In-person help: Go to Find Local Help, where you can enter your city and state or zip code to find an application assister, insurance agent, or health insurance broker in your area.
Get Help From a Licensed Insurance Broker
To directly connect with a California insurance broker who can help you evaluate insurance plans and choose a plan that's appropriate for your situation, call 800-943-6832. (We receive advertising income from the licensed brokers who offer their services through this telephone number.)