Covered California, Medi-Cal and the county safety net

Step-by-step

1. 1

   Enrol in your employer's plan within the new-hire window

   Typically 30 days from your start date. Compare the deductible and out-of-pocket maximum, not just the premium. In a region this large, also check the network's geographic coverage — an HMO that works on the Westside may have thin options in the Valley.

   Via employerWho: YouFirst 30 days of employment
2. 2

   Without an employer plan, use Covered California

   California runs its own exchange rather than HealthCare.gov, and typically operates a longer open-enrolment window than federally-run states. Check current dates on the site rather than assuming the federal deadline.

   OnlineWho: You
3. 3

   Check Medi-Cal eligibility first

   California expanded Medi-Cal further than most states, including full-scope coverage regardless of immigration status for all age groups. Newcomers on modest early incomes frequently qualify and never check because they assume US healthcare is unaffordable by definition.

   OnlineWho: You
4. 4

   Register with a primary care physician near where you live

   Your PCP gates specialist access in most plans, and in a county this spread out, a doctor twenty miles away is a doctor you will not visit. Confirm network status with the practice directly — insurer directories are frequently wrong.

   OnlineWho: You
5. 5

   Learn the urgent care versus emergency room distinction

   An ER visit for something a clinic could treat can cost thousands even insured. Urgent care handles fractures, stitches and infections far more cheaply. Find your nearest and save it now.

   In personWho: You
6. 6

   Know the county system exists

   LA County Department of Health Services runs public hospitals and clinics providing care on a sliding scale regardless of insurance or immigration status. It is not a substitute for coverage, but it is a real safety net and one of the largest in the United States.

   In personWho: You