Politics & Government

Solano County Affordable Healthcare Call Center Opens to Enroll the 48,000 Uninsured Residents

CHOICE Solano Call Center opens enrollment for health insurance options ranging from coverage under Medi-Cal to subsidized and unsubsidized private health insurance plans beginning Oct. 1. Use the subsidy calculator to estimate your premiums.

Solano CHOICE Call Center ready for opening day of enrollment in ACA health care plans

Open enrollment for Affordable Care Act health insurance options starts Oct. 1

Staff at the new Solano Center for Healthcare Options and Insurance Coverage Enrollment (CHOICE) Call Center are ready for the opening day of enrollment for new health insurance offerings as part of the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

Starting October 1, 2013, the estimated 48,500 uninsured Solano County residents will have the chance to enroll in various health care plans through a new health insurance marketplace: Covered California.
The options offered by the state's health benefit exchange run the broad spectrum of health insurance options ranging from coverage under Medi-Cal to subsidized and unsubsidized private health insurance plans. 

Open enrollment continues through March 2014. Actual health care coverage begins in January 2014. Enrollment is not affected by the current negotiations over the federal budget.

There are three easy ways to apply:
  1. Call Covered California at 1-800-300-1506.
  2. Apply at www.coveredca.com. Depending on income, residents may be eligible to receive tax credits and subsidies for their health insurance. Residents can calculate their health care costs on the website, or
  3. Apply in person at one of the three Solano County Health and Human Services offices: 275 Beck Ave in Fairfield, 1119 E. Monte Vista Ave. in Vacaville, and 365 Tuolumne St. in Vallejo.
Most residents are not expected to call the CHOICE Call Center directly, although they may if they choose. The majority of the calls coming into the CHOICE Call Center will come from Covered California staff. If they determine the caller to be eligible for Medi-Cal benefits, Covered California will route the call back to the person’s county of residence for immediate and complete service.

"Staff members in the new Solano CHOICE Call Center will gather information from the customer and deliver eligibility results, often by the end of the call," said Ann Edwards, Solano County Health and Social Services director.

The CHOICE Call Center is located at 275 Beck Ave. in Fairfield and can be reached at 707-784-8555. The staff consists of a manager, four supervisors and 24 eligibility benefits specialists and 10 office assistants.  The center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“The CHOICE Call Center’s phone system has successfully passed necessary tests, and staff are ready to answer calls on health insurance coverage,” Edwards said.

The Affordable Care Act is designed to furnish healthcare for uninsured American citizens who do not already receive benefits from their employer. For a deeper look at how the health exchanges will roll out over the next few months, check out the Christian Science Monitor's FAQ.

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