Covered California

Aliados Health has a team of Certified Enrollment Counselors (CECs) who can assist you to enroll in or renew public (Medi-Cal) or private (Covered California) health insurance. Our CECs are trained to explain the health insurance selection and enrollment process, to assist you in completing forms and providing required documentation, and assist you with health coverage renewals. Services are confidential and provided at no cost. To find a Certified Enrollment Counselor near you, click here.

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Covered California

Covered California is the state’s health insurance marketplace where Californians can shop for health plans.

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Covered California Eligibility

Covered California has eligibility requirements.

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Covered California Benefits

Covered California plans offer and provide essential health benefits.

Covered California

Medi-Cal offers low-cost or free health insurance to eligible California residents with limited incomes. Covered California is the state’s health insurance marketplace where Californians can shop for health plans and access financial help if they qualify for it. Health plans available through Covered California offer a similar set of important benefits, called essential health benefits.

Medi-Cal and Covered California use the same application process. A Certified Enrollment Counselor can explain eligibility during the enrollment process.

To learn more about Covered California , watch this video.

When can I apply for Covered California?

Open Enrollment

Open enrollment is from November 1 through January 31 every year.

Beginning with the 2027 plan year, the open enrollment period will be shortened to nine weeks, starting no later than November 1st and ending no later than December 31st.

Ending of Auto-Enrollment (effective 2027): Auto-enrollment will effectively end for all Covered California enrollees starting with the 2027 plan year.

To find a Certified Enrollment Counselor, click HERE.

Special Enrollment

If you miss open enrollment, you may be eligible for Covered California’s special enrollment.

Special Enrollment

You can apply for a health plan outside open enrollment (or make changes to your current plan) if you’ve experienced one of these qualifying life events, within the last 60 days.

  • Lost Job or Income
  • Moved to or Within California
  • A Child is Born, Adopted or Received into Foster Care
  • Domestic Abuse or Spousal Abandonment
  • Returned from Active Military Service
  • Gained Citizenship or Lawful Presence
  • Turned 26 years old
  • Married or Entered a Domestic Partnership
  • Change of Household Size
  • Affected by Wildfires
  • Released from Jail or Prison

For the more detail list, click Special Enrollment.
Source: Special Enrollment

As of August 25, 2025 and through 2026, H.R. 1 eliminates the monthly special enrollment period (SEP) for individuals at or below 150% of the federal poverty line (FPL).

For more Covered California updates, click here.

What do I need to apply?:

  • Social Security Numbers – For each person applying for health insurance
  • Federal tax information – For the household
  • Immigration Documents – For non-citizens
  • Employer and Income Information – Proof of income documentation (paystubs, tax forms, etc.)

For full documents list: Eligibility Documentation.

Covered California will no longer accept self-attestation of income when tax data is unavailable or indicates income below 100% of the federal poverty line (FPL), effective August 25, 2025.

For more Covered California updates, click here.

Information for Immigrants:

Most Immigrants Qualify for Health Coverage

Under the Affordable Care Act, most immigrants qualify for health coverage, including the following groups:

  1. Lawful permanent residents (green card holders).
  2. Lawful temporary residents.
  3. Persons fleeing persecution, including refugees and asylees.
  4. Other humanitarian immigrants, including those granted temporary protected status.
  5. Non-immigrant status holders (including worker visas and student visas).

Immigrants who are not lawfully present do not qualify for a health plan through Covered California; however, they may qualify for coverage through Medi-Cal if they are pregnant or were recently pregnant.

Source: Families With Mixed Immigration Status

Covered California Essential Health Benefits

Covered California health plans provide a comprehensive package of items and services, known as essential health benefits.
These benefits fit into 10 categories:

Ambulatory patient services

Emergency services

Hospitalization

Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care

Mental health and substance use disorder, including behavioral health treatment

Prescription drugs

Rehabilitation & habilitative services & devices

Laboratory services

Preventive & wellness services and chronic disease management

Pediatric services

Reporting a Change

When the information on your application changes during the year, you must report it. Changes to things like your address, family size, and income can affect whether you qualify for Medi-Cal or get help paying for your health insurance through Covered California.

People with Medi-Cal must report changes to their local county office within 10 days of the change. If you have health insurance through Covered California, you must report changes within 30 days.

Click HERE to contact a Certified Enrollment Counselor who will assist you with reporting a change at no cost to you.

Source: Covered CA

For more information call
Aliados Health Benefit Helpline:

707-789-7308

Or visit our Community Outreach and Enrollment site for the closest Certified Enrollment Counselor to you.

Covered California Disclaimer

Aliados Health’s Navigator Program is funded by Covered California. “Covered California”, “California Health Benefit Exchange” and the Covered California Logo are registered trademarks or service marks of Covered California in the United States.

This website is owned and maintained by Aliados Health which is solely responsible for its content. This site is not maintained by or affiliated with Covered California, and Covered California bears no responsibility for its content. The email addresses and telephone numbers that appear throughout this site belong to Aliados Health and cannot be used to contact Covered California.