What Is Covered California? Watch BEFORE You Buy - Watch on YouTube
Covered California is the state's official health insurance marketplace — where individuals, families, and small businesses shop for private health plans, often with financial help that lowers the cost. It was created under the Affordable Care Act, and it's the only place Californians can use federal premium subsidies to buy coverage.
If you're new to it, this guide walks through how it works, who it's for, what it costs, and how to get the most out of it. Think of this as your starting point — each section links to a deeper guide.
| Step | What it means |
|---|---|
| 1. Check your income | Your household income vs. the Federal Poverty Level determines whether you get Medi-Cal, a subsidy, or enhanced Silver. |
| 2. See your financial help | Most enrollees qualify for a premium tax credit that lowers their monthly cost — and many for enhanced Silver plans. |
| 3. Pick a metal tier | Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum — balancing monthly premium against costs when you use care. |
| 4. Choose a carrier & network | Kaiser, Blue Shield, Anthem, Health Net and others — making sure your doctors are in-network. |
| 5. Enroll & pay | Apply during Open Enrollment or a Special Enrollment Period, then pay your first premium to activate. |
This is the hub — here's where to go deeper on each part of Covered California:
The full 2026 FPL income chart by household size. See what financial help and which programs you qualify for.
Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum compared with real 2026 deductibles and copays — and the enhanced Silver secret.
Which one you qualify for, how they differ, and what happens at the income border between them.
Qualifying life events that let you enroll outside Open Enrollment, and the 60-day window rules.
The step-by-step application process, what you'll need, and how to avoid the common mistakes.
See your actual plans and prices with your subsidy applied — side by side, instantly.
Everything on Covered California costs the same whether you enroll yourself or use a licensed agent — your premium is identical either way, because agents are paid by the carriers, not by you. What you get with an agent is help estimating income correctly, checking your doctors against plan networks, finding enhanced Silver if you qualify, and avoiding the mistakes that cost people money.
We've helped process hundreds of thousands of California applications since 1994. If you'd rather have an expert in your corner — for free — we're here.
Covered California is for individuals and families who don't get affordable coverage through an employer, the self-employed, early retirees, and anyone who wants to use a premium subsidy. If your income is very low you may qualify for Medi-Cal instead; if you're 65+ you'd typically look at Medicare. For everyone in between, Covered California is the marketplace — and we can help you make sense of it in a few minutes.