Covered California sent an email out to its Certified Agents on the evening of March 31, to explain that there is a new deadline for enrollment:
Record-setting numbers of people trying to sign up for Covered California™ health insurance plans overwhelmed the system on the final day of open enrollment, prompting the exchange to allow consumers who had trouble enrolling by the deadline to work with a Certified Insurance Agent to finish their application by April 15. Because of the staggering demands on the system, Covered California announced the following policy this afternoon:
- Consumers who were unable to create an online account or start their online application because of technical difficulties can contact a Covered California Certified Insurance Agent to explain that they attempted to get through on March 31 and experienced difficulties. Those consumers will have until 11:59 p.m. April 15 to work with the Certified Insurance Agent to complete their application and choose a plan.
- Consumers who created an online account and completed the first page of the application by 11:59 p.m. March 31, 2014, will be able to complete their application for the open-enrollment period, either by themselves online or with the help of a Certified Insurance Agent. Consumers must complete the application and select a plan by 11:59 p.m. April 15, 2014. Those enrollees will receive coverage effective May 1, 2014.
- Certified Insurance Agents who are having a difficult time helping consumers apply through Covered California's enrollment website should assist consumers using a paper application. The Certified Insurance Agent can then enter the information into our enrollment website. Completed applications (with plan selections) must be entered by April 15, 2014 (by 11:59 p.m.).
- When entering the paper application, please make sure you select the “Open Enrollment” category when responding to the question, “What is the ‘life event’ causing you to re-apply.” When responding to the"When did this 'life event' occur," you should input 3/31/2014. Consumers may receive a May 1, 2014 effective date with their selected plan.
If you were one of these people who were unable to sign up with Covered California, please give me a call and I can help you finish your application or
download the paper application and either email it to me at alex@pfeiferins.com or fax it to me at 650-897-5998. Do this before April 15 and I will make sure Covered California received it by the deadline.