This year as many as 50,000 more San Diego County residents could get help paying for health insurance through Covered California, the state's insurance marketplace
"This year over a million Californians will be eligible for more financial help," said Covered California CEO Peter Lee. "The state is putting money on the table for people across the income spectrum, but for the first time middle-class Californians, people who make up to $150,000 for a family of four, might be eligible for financial help."
Covered California data shows that eligible middle-income families who qualify for a state subsidy are receiving an average of $526 per month per household.
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Lee said the money is coming from tax dollars and the re-institution of the fine people will have to pay on their 2020 taxes if they aren't covered. A family of four would pay at least $2,000 as a penalty for not having health insurance through 2020.
About 100,000 people in the county are already receiving financial assistance through Covered California. One is Shaun Benoit.
"Well I have health insurance and at a much lower cost and good health insurance," Benoit said. "When my appendix burst I was in a private room, I had an infection specialist, I had a stomach specialist every day ... when I left there my total bill was $94,000 and my out of pocket was $1,300."
Click here to find out if you qualify. In just a few minutes, the site will show plans you're eligible for based on your household income, zip code and number of family members.
For those who want to talk to someone in person about eligibility, there are places such as the La Maestra Community Health Center in City Heights that offer free consultations.
The deadline is Dec. 15 to get covered by Jan. 1, 2020, but people may still signup until the open enrollment period ends on Jan. 31, 2020.
