™How to Sign Up for Covered California Before the Dec. 31 Cutoff
One free application checks you for both Covered California and Medi-Cal. Then you pick a plan and pay the first bill.
You're wondering if it's too late for a Covered California health plan that starts Jan. 1. It isn't, as long as you pick one by Dec. 31.
Open enrollment began Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 31, but the last month comes with a catch. On its open enrollment page, Covered California says a plan chosen in January doesn't start until Feb. 1. That means a month with no coverage for anybody who waits.
Who this is for
To qualify, you need to be a California resident and either a U.S. citizen or someone who holds lawful immigration status, according to the agency's eligibility and enrollment page. Whether you also get help paying depends on what you earn. Open enrollment is when you can sign up for the first time, renew or switch plans for the coming year.
Federal changes for 2027 affect whether some lawfully present immigrants can get financial help through the marketplace, Covered California said in a Nov. 6 release. The agency said most immigrants aren't affected.
One L.A. detail could change your plan before you've done anything. Molina Healthcare is pulling its plans out of northeast Los Angeles County for 2027, Covered California says, so Molina members there will need to compare what's still available.
The steps, in order
- Gather your information. Have ready the Social Security numbers of anyone applying who has one, federal tax information, immigration documents for non-citizens, and employer and income details. You don't upload documents up front. The agency checks government records and will tell you exactly what to send if it needs more.
- Apply. One application checks you for both Covered California and Medi-Cal. Online takes about 30 minutes, and you can save your progress. By phone, call (800) 300-1506 for free help in several languages. In person, a licensed insurance agent or certified enroller will walk you through it in about an hour. By mail, paper applications come in 12 languages and go to Covered California, P.O. Box 989725, West Sacramento, CA 95798-9725. Anyone who might get a break on the cost should fill out the financial-help version of the paper form.
- Choose a plan by Dec. 31. The Shop and Compare tool shows plans and estimated costs before you commit.
- Pay the first bill. Pay online, or hold off until your insurer bills you; that bill usually shows up in about two weeks.
- Watch for your ID card. Your insurer mails the card once your payment lands. Coverage works before it shows up, so don't wait on it to see a doctor.
If the application finds you eligible for Medi-Cal, the next stop is BenefitsCal.com or your county office.
What it costs
Applying is free, and so is the help, whether it's online, by phone or in person. In its Nov. 6 release, the agency said it has about 16,000 certified enrollers statewide and that 99.6% of Californians live within 15 minutes of in-person help.
The plan itself costs whatever your income and choices add up to. Right now, one in five Covered California enrollees has a $0 premium, the agency says, and 725,000 people pay no more than $100 a month. For 2027, the state will add extra premium help for anyone whose income falls at or below 200% of the federal poverty line. That's $31,920 for one person and $66,000 for a family of four.
The mistake the agency keeps pointing to is skipping coverage without checking the price first. Many people "qualify for financial help but are choosing to go uninsured," Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman said in the Nov. 6 release.
If you're late
Miss Dec. 31 and you can still enroll in January, but coverage starts Feb. 1. Miss Jan. 31 and you'll need a major life change, like losing your insurance, getting married, having a baby, moving or a change in immigration status. That event gives you a special enrollment window, generally 60 days long, counted from the date it happened. If none of that applies, the next open enrollment is your next shot.
Going without coverage also costs money at tax time. In a January release, Covered California said going all of 2026 uninsured means a state tax penalty, collected by the Franchise Tax Board, of at least $950 per adult. For a family of four, it said, that's at least $2,800.
Once you've paid, log in and open your Enrollment Dashboard to confirm the plan went through, or call (800) 300-1506.
Source: coveredca.com, retrieved November 9, 2026. Other sources: coveredca.com (2), coveredca.com (3), coveredca.com (4).
Comments 0