About three-fourths of California residents who were uninsured prior to the Affordable Care Act's 2014 enactment now have health insurance and say their health needs are being met, a Kaiser Family Foundation survey found.
The largest amount of uninsured — roughly one-third — gained coverage through Medi-Cal. About a fifth of previously uninsured Californians gained coverage through an employer and about one in 10 bought coverage through Covered California, the state's health insurance exchange. In addition, 63 percent of insured respondents said they were covered for a least a year, and almost half held coverage for more than two years.
The remaining uninsured include undocumented immigrants who do not qualify for subsidies under the ACA, those who are eligible but do not know their options and others concerned about costs. Hispanic respondents account for two-thirds of all uninsured Californians, according to the survey.
The number of undocumented immigrants with insurance may increase, as Covered California drafted a waiver earlier this month seeking federal approval to sell coverage to undocumented immigrants under the ACA. However, some uninsured may be deterred from Covered California, as policyholders will face an average 13.2 percent rate hike next year in the individual market.
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