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NEW LAW BRINGS GOOD NEWS TO CALIFORNIANS
by Contributing Writer, Cheryl D Howard
Good news for three million Californians and for 25 million Americans across the nation.
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After just two months since the installment of the new president, Joe Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan (ARP) as submitted by the House. The ARP will create the biggest expansion of financial help for current healthcare policyholders with Covered California and uninsured applicants. The new program will lower health care costs for those who are already enrolled in programs created under the Affordable Care Act, such as Covered California.
The ARP will increase the amount of financial help to individuals who earn less than 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). The focus will also be on communities that have been hit the hardest by the COVID pandemic, including communities of color, frontline workers who have lost their jobs and low-income individuals and families. They all will be eligible for the new plan. The uninsured will have a great advantage. They will be eligible to receive lower premium costs for health plans. What may previously cost consumers $140.00 a month, will now be as low as $30 a month!
Californians who are already enrolled will receive larger subsidies beginning May 2021.
At that time, Californians will be able to shop plans but will find the premiums are now significantly lowered. However, for the benefit of every eligible California, a special enrollment period will be extended to the end of this year, 2021. It has been said that it is a life changing program. For those Californians who are looking to amend coverage or don’t have but do need healthcare coverage, this is good news! n
