With the January 31 deadline to sign up for affordable health insurance fast approaching, a network of agencies, community organizations, and dedicated individuals across San Mateo County are partnering to help every uninsured resident gain access to quality, affordable health insurance.

With three weeks remaining to the enrollment deadline, there are still an estimated 32,000 county residents who do not have health insurance and may qualify for financial help. Residents who do not enroll by January 31 may have to wait until 2018 to gain affordable health coverage and financial assistance. People who sign up by January 15 will have health coverage starting on February 1, and those who enroll January 16 through January 31 will be covered starting March 1. Those eligible for Medi-Cal coverage can continue to apply or renew year-round.

“Covered California, Medi-Cal, and San Mateo County health insurance programs have helped hundreds of thousands of residents gain access to affordable healthcare services,” said Srija Srinivasan, San Mateo County Health System Interim Deputy Chief. “While 96% of San Mateo County’s population is insured, we want to make sure everyone is covered so they are best prepared to stay healthy and get any care they need. If you already signed up, please encourage others to take action for their future. Most of the 60,000 people who enrolled or reenrolled in health coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) last year were encouraged to do so by a family member, friend, or doctor.”

The Health System supports a “no-wrong-door” approach where a single application is used to enroll someone in the most appropriate health insurance coverage based on income and other criteria – whether the person is completing the application on their own online, or with the help of an enrollment counselor by phone or in-person. Regardless of their immigration status, San Mateo County residents can access free or low-cost health insurance coverage through a combination of federal, state, and county programs. The County is committed to the privacy and security of all personal information, as required by law.

Bilingual enrollment counselors are available to help people sign up at enrollment sites before the 2017 deadline. Enrollment hours and languages spoken at each center can be found at smcgov.org/healthcoverage. The public is invited to ask enrollment counselors last minute questions during the KGO-TV health coverage phone bank from 4:00 to 7:00pm on Friday, January 13. The San Mateo Medical Center will also be extending hours leading up to the enrollment deadline and will be open on Saturday, January 21 from 8am to 4:30pm. Local in-person enrollment assistance is available by calling (650) 616-2002 or 1 (800) 223-8383. People can also enroll directly through Covered California’s website: www.CoveredCA.com.

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