California has made the biggest recent gains in the country in getting children signed up for health insurance, according to a new report. Researchers at the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families found the Golden State cut its number of uninsured children by 55 percent between 2013 and 2015, just after the Affordable Care Act went into effect.
Mayra Alvarez, president of the Children’s Partnership credits the state’s decision to fully implement the ACA, expanding Medi-Cal and creating a state marketplace, Covered California, that makes it easy to sign up.
“As a one-stop shopping center, families are notified about what programs for which they or their children may qualify, both private plans, and public programs like Medi-Cal, making the process easier, but also helping secure coverage for more children that are eligible,” she explained.