According to a July 24 news release from Covered California, the state’s ACA exchange marketplace, the state will eliminate deductibles for cost-sharing reduction silver ACA plans and reduce cost-sharing for various services in these plans. These plans are available for individuals with incomes up to 250 percent of the federal poverty line.
Around 40 percent of the 1.6 million Covered California enrollees will be eligible for the deductible-free plans in 2024, according to the news release.
The initiative is funded through the state’s budget agreement. Covered California will receive $165 million in funding in 2025.
“Recognizing that cost is still the key barrier to proper healthcare for too many Californians, our goal is to improve affordability for our enrollees in every aspect of their healthcare,” Jessica Altman, executive director of Covered California, said. “Combined with federal support for premiums under the Inflation Reduction Act, this will be the highest level of affordability support that has ever been available to our enrollees.”
