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Covered CA recently announced they will offer an extended enrollment period for those who recently learned of the tax penalty for the uninsured. Per their website:


“Covered California is offering a time-limited opportunity to enroll during special enrollment for consumers who did not realize there was a tax penalty in 2014 or learned they may face a penalty in 2015. From now until April 30, 2015, consumers are eligible to apply for health coverage during special enrollment. Applicants must attest to the fact that they did not realize there was a tax penalty by selecting “Informed of Tax Penalty Risk” on the drop-down menu. To start the process for this special-enrollment category, click here.

In addition, there are other conditions that may qualify you to enroll in coverage outside of the open-enrollment period.”


The special enrollment qualifying life events are as below:


  • Getting married or entering into a domestic partnership.
  • Having a child or adopting a child, receiving a child into foster care, or placing a child in adoption or in a foster home.
  • Change in place of residency, which allows a consumer to gain access to new Covered California health insurance plans. This includes moving to California from another state. This also applies to individuals who are released from jail or prison.
  • Losing health coverage. For example, consumers are no longer eligible for Medi-Cal, or they lose health coverage through their job.
  • Income changes so much that a consumer becomes newly eligible or ineligible for help paying for their insurance. For example, if a consumer is already getting help paying for their insurance premium, and their income goes down, they may be able to get extra help.
  • Becoming citizens, national or lawfully present individuals. This event applies only to people who were not previously citizens, nationals or lawfully present.
  • The consumer’s enrollment was wrong, due to the misconduct or misrepresentation of their health insurance company, Covered California or a non-Covered California entity (such as a Certified Enrollment Counselor).
  • Being a member of a federally recognized American Indian or Alaska Native tribe. A consumer in this category may enroll in health insurance or change health insurance plan once a month even if the open enrollment period is over.
  • Covered California can also determine, on a case-by-case basis, that the consumer experienced an exceptional circumstance, which could allow for a special enrollment period.

Need help enrolling? Find a local agent listed on their website or call us at (925) 447-2565.