California Health Insurance (CA)

HealthInsuranceFinders.com offers free California health insurance quotes and information resources on affordable California health insurance plans. Our listings from California medical insurance companies offer coverage for group or individual policies. Whether you are looking for information on low-cost health insurance in California or an online quote from major California health insurance companies, you will find everything you need here, in one convenient location.

California (CA)
Individual Health Insurance Regulations

Learn more about California Individual Health Insurance

California is one of the few states in the nation that is a "non-rider" health insurance state. Due to California medical insurance regulations, an insurance company offering health insurance in California is not permitted to place an "exclusionary rider" on a new health insurance policy. Therefore, the acceptance guidelines of the insurance companies in this state tend to be stricter than in other states, with a higher percentage of declined applications. Rates for individuals in California are based only on geographical location and age. Insurance companies offering (individual or family) California health insurance plans may deny coverage based on medical history and other factors. This makes our free California health insurance quotes an especially valuable tool in your search for affordable California health insurance plans.

California (CA)
Small Group Health Insurance Regulations

The State of California defines a "Small Group" as any company with between 2 and 50 employees. Any employee working for a qualified small group operating within the state is guaranteed approval on an application for health insurance. The insurance company can adjust their published rates by no greater than 10%. Rates are based on age, zip code of residence and the composition of the family. Any qualified group that renews their existing health insurance policy will follow the same criteria and rating guidelines. To qualify as a small group, a company must have at least 2 employees that work at least 6 months of the year and at least 20 hours per week. The owner(s) of the company can count as an employee if he draws wages from the company.

Cal-COBRA and Continuation Coverage

COBRA is available for up to 36 months under certain qualifying events and is a continuation of the same coverage you had under your group health plan. Upon the expiration of COBRA, you may enroll in a HIPAA individual health plan offered through private health insurance companies offering individual health plans in California. Premiums are typically very high, but acceptance is guaranteed if you enroll within 63 days of the termination of your COBRA coverage.

(Cal-COBRA applies to employers with 2-19 employees and provides these employees 36 months of coverage.)

Additional California Resources

• California Health Insurance Plan Options
  Provides a list and information about some of the health insurance plans that are available in California, as well as a summary about each insurance company offering that plan.
• Major Risk Medical Insurance Program
  Provides health insurance coverage to California residents that are uninsurable due to pre-existing medical conditions and do not qualify for state assistance under the Medicaid program.
• California Healthy Families
  Provides health insurance coverage to children under the age of 19 that meet certain income and eligibility guidelines. This program is administered through various health insurance carriers and community health plans throughout the state.
• California Medi-Cal
  Provides health insurance coverage to low-income families throughout the state that would otherwise be uninsured.
• Medicare Information
  Provides accurate and unbiased information about Medicare for residents of California

CA Medical Insurance Statistics

Total Population: 35,940,000
With Health Insurance: 28,979,000 / 80.6%
Without Health Insurance: 6,961,000 / 19.4%
*According to 2005 CPS Reports / U.S. Census Bureau

Note: The percentage of uninsured people in California continues to grow and the percentages without health insurance are amongst the highest in the nation.

California Department of Insurance
Phone: 800-927-4357
Regulates the insurance industry in the State of California and provides consumer assistance and complaint forums.

California Department of Corporations
Regulates the health insurance industry only for HMO plans.

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