The number of people who applied for health care coverage through Covered California picked up in the last few weeks, state officials said Thursday.
The number of those enrolled in health plans in November totaled 78,377 individuals. That's nearly double from October, said Peter Lee, executive director for Covered California. In addition, 108,000 people who applied in November were likely to be eligible for Medi-Cal, with coverage beginning in January 2014, Lee said.
"What these numbers are saying is Californians have heard they need to sign up by Dec. 23," Lee said. "We believe these numbers are going to grow, because Californians are talking to Californians."
A total of 109,296 have enrolled in plans in October and November.
But Lee acknowledged that at least 30 percent of those who log on to the Covered California website found the process difficult.
He also said state officials need to increase research into how to reach more Asian-Americans and Spanish-speaking Latinos. "Spanish speakers represent 5 percent of our total enrollment," Lee said. "That's not enough."
The real success in enrollment seems to be among those who qualify for Medi-Cal. By the time Jan. 1 rolls around, at least 1 million to 2 million Californians will join Medi-Cal, said Toby Douglas, director of the California Department of Health Care Services.
By the first of the year, 10 million Californians will be covered under Medi-Cal, Douglas added. ___
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