In officially launching its open enrollment Covered California will be sending masks to millions of residents.
The masks are emblazoned with the message: Get Covered, Stay Covered as a call to protect against the spread of COVID-19 and sign up for health insurance.
"And while much of the nation has seen incredible viral surge, some parts of California are also rebounding with higher rates of COVID infection and more Californians are being admitted to their local hospitals," says Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the state's Health and Human Services Agency.
"Those who are hospitalized because of COVID and do not have health insurance, or the special cost sharing protections that have been put in place with COVID, could work out with very large bills. This fact puts a spotlight on the high cost of health care which is why everyone should have health insurance," he says.
While the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in a challenge to the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, the head of Covered CA still urged people to sign up for health insurance because any decision from the high court is still months away.
