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July 14, 2026
Can I Buy Health Insurance Outside Open Enrollment in California? Yes — Here's How
Can I Buy Health Insurance Outside Open Enrollment in California? Yes — Here's How By Sally Damaris It's one of the most common calls we get: "I missed open enrollment. Am I just uninsured until November?" The good news is that for many Californians, the answer is no. California's open enrollment window runs from November […]
July 14, 2026
How to Change Covered California Plans: When You Can Switch and How to Do It
How to Change Covered California Plans: When You Can Switch and How to Do It By Sally Damaris If your Covered California plan isn't working for you anymore, you're not stuck with it forever. Maybe your doctor left the network, your premium went up, or your health needs changed. Whatever the reason, there are specific […]
July 7, 2026
Don't Qualify for a Covered California Subsidy? Read This Before You Buy Anything.
By Sally Damaris You ran your numbers through Covered California and got the answer nobody likes: little or no financial assistance. Now you're staring at the full sticker price and wondering if that's just what health insurance costs when you earn "too much." Here's what most people in your position don't know: once subsidies are […]
July 7, 2026
Told Medi-Cal Is Your Only Option in California? It Usually Isn't.
By Sally Damaris Here's a conversation we have with Californians almost every week. They apply through Covered California, the system looks at their income, and instead of showing them health plans with financial assistance, it routes them to Medi-Cal. For many people that's welcome news — Medi-Cal is comprehensive coverage at little or no cost. […]
October 19, 2020
Guide to Exemptions for the California Health Insurance Mandate
Guide to Exemptions for the California Health Insurance Mandate Insure Health Plans · Updated July 2026 Under the California health insurance mandate, in effect since January 2020, every adult and child in the state must carry medical coverage that complies with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Despite the goal of insuring 100% of the California […]
October 19, 2020
Find Private Health Insurance in California to Avoid Penalties
Find Private Health Insurance in California to Avoid Penalties Insure Health Plans · Updated July 2026 California requires nearly every resident to carry qualifying health insurance — a rule that has been in force since January 2020. The state enforces this individual mandate by assigning tax penalties to those who go without coverage. To avoid […]
October 19, 2020
How to Avoid Tax Penalties for Going Without Health Insurance In California (CA) & In Other Applicable States (NJ, DC, MA, RI, VT)
How to Avoid Tax Penalties for Going Without Health Insurance in California (CA) & Other Applicable States (NJ, DC, MA, RI, VT) Insure Health Plans · Updated July 2026 The California health insurance mandate, in effect since January 2020, changed the requirements for health coverage in the state. Many residents still have questions about how […]
Avoid Penalties for the Californai Health Insurance Mandate
California Health Insurance Mandate - Avoid Tax Penalty at Open Enrollment

How to Avoid Tax Penalties for Going Without Health Insurance In California (CA) & In Other Applicable States (NJ, DC, MA, RI, VT)

How to Avoid Tax Penalties for Going Without Health Insurance in California (CA) & Other Applicable States (NJ, DC, MA, RI, VT) Insure Health Plans · Updated July 2026 The California health insurance mandate, in effect since January 2020, changed the requirements for health coverage in the state. Many residents still have questions about how to find private health insurance that satisfies the rules. Once you understand the mandate's requirements — and the tax penalties for going without sufficient coverageRead More
brandonbrandon October 19, 2020 0
Find Private Health Insurance in California to Avoid Penalties
California Health Insurance Mandate - Avoid Tax Penalty at Open Enrollment

Find Private Health Insurance in California to Avoid Penalties

Find Private Health Insurance in California to Avoid Penalties Insure Health Plans · Updated July 2026 California requires nearly every resident to carry qualifying health insurance — a rule that has been in force since January 2020. The state enforces this individual mandate by assigning tax penalties to those who go without coverage. To avoid fines and tax-time surprises, it pays to understand how to find private health insurance in California that meets all the current requirements. Many people whoRead More
brandonbrandon October 19, 2020 0
Guide to Exemptions for the California Health Insurance Mandate
Obamacare Mandate Tax Penalties No More- However Some States Reenacting At The State Level

Guide to Exemptions for the California Health Insurance Mandate

Guide to Exemptions for the California Health Insurance Mandate Insure Health Plans · Updated July 2026 Under the California health insurance mandate, in effect since January 2020, every adult and child in the state must carry medical coverage that complies with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Despite the goal of insuring 100% of the California populace, exemptions exist for a variety of reasons. Ideally, everyone has coverage to help pay for healthcare-related expenses. If you or anyone in your familyRead More
brandonbrandon October 19, 2020 0
Doctor consulting with patient in a modern office
California Health Insurance Mandate - Avoid Tax Penalty at Open Enrollment

Told Medi-Cal Is Your Only Option in California? It Usually Isn't.

By Sally Damaris Here's a conversation we have with Californians almost every week. They apply through Covered California, the system looks at their income, and instead of showing them health plans with financial assistance, it routes them to Medi-Cal. For many people that's welcome news — Medi-Cal is comprehensive coverage at little or no cost. But for others, it doesn't feel like the right fit: maybe your preferred doctors don't accept it, maybe your income is about to change, orRead More
brandonbrandon July 7, 2026 0
Person reviewing paperwork with calculator and laptop
California Health Insurance Mandate - Avoid Tax Penalty at Open Enrollment

Don't Qualify for a Covered California Subsidy? Read This Before You Buy Anything.

By Sally Damaris You ran your numbers through Covered California and got the answer nobody likes: little or no financial assistance. Now you're staring at the full sticker price and wondering if that's just what health insurance costs when you earn "too much." Here's what most people in your position don't know: once subsidies are off the table, Covered California loses its biggest advantage — and the private market becomes a genuine competitor. Subsidized shoppers have every reason to stayRead More
brandonbrandon July 7, 2026 0
Couple reviewing health plan documents together at home
California Health Insurance Mandate - Avoid Tax Penalty at Open Enrollment

How to Change Covered California Plans: When You Can Switch and How to Do It

How to Change Covered California Plans: When You Can Switch and How to Do It By Sally Damaris If your Covered California plan isn't working for you anymore, you're not stuck with it forever. Maybe your doctor left the network, your premium went up, or your health needs changed. Whatever the reason, there are specific windows when you can switch — and knowing them can save you a lot of frustration. Here's how changing your Covered California plan actually works,Read More
brandonbrandon July 14, 2026 0
Open monthly calendar planner on a desk representing enrollment deadlines
California Health Insurance Mandate - Avoid Tax Penalty at Open Enrollment

Can I Buy Health Insurance Outside Open Enrollment in California? Yes — Here's How

Can I Buy Health Insurance Outside Open Enrollment in California? Yes — Here's How By Sally Damaris It's one of the most common calls we get: "I missed open enrollment. Am I just uninsured until November?" The good news is that for many Californians, the answer is no. California's open enrollment window runs from November 1 through January 31 each year. But there are several legitimate paths to coverage the other nine months — you just need to know whichRead More
brandonbrandon July 14, 2026 0
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