The Affordable Care Act has paved the path to peace of mind for Californians and all Americans. Now, we all need to be part of making sure everyone we know gets quality, affordable health care �" health care that's a right, not a privilege.
I began my work in health care as an AIDS advocate in the 1980s. I had friends denied coverage because of their diagnosis; treatment options were few; and the federal government turned a deaf ear to calls to invest the resources and effort needed to address the epidemic. It was also a time when women with breast cancer were regularly turned away from coverage, and transgender health issues were hardly even on the radar.
Twenty-five years after I was arrested in front of the Reagan White House for protesting the lack of response to the AIDS epidemic, I was appointed by President Barack Obama to join his administration. We've come a long way in those 25 years �" for many younger members of the LGBTQ community, the early days of the HIV and AIDS epidemic are not part of their reality, because the changes committed LGBTQ community advocates have helped create have transformed the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS and other diseases.
Similarly, the changes to health insurance coverage and access brought by the Affordable Care Act are transforming the lives of millions of Americans. But that transformation is far from complete. We all know people who have lived without adequate health care for too long. There are still too many LGBTQ community members who are uninsured �" and we all need to help change that.
Open enrollment began on November 1 and ends on January 31, and anyone who signs up through Covered California by December 15 will be covered beginning January 1. Individuals signing up for a plan through Covered California will be purchasing private plans from the top insurance companies in the nation �" and nine out of 10 who enroll with Covered California get help paying their monthly premium.
The Affordable Care Act has dramatically reduced the percentage of the population without insurance. For the first time in history, the uninsured rate nationally for those younger than 65 is less than 10 percent; and in California we have reduced that rate to fewer than 8.6 percent. Thanks to our partnership with LGBTQ community organizations, such as the California LGBT Health and Human Services Network, Equality California, and national initiatives such as Out2Enroll, we know that many LGBTQ people are among those who have gotten coverage.
Covered California is also working to make coverage better. Earlier this year, we became the first health insurance marketplace in the country to adopt benefit design changes to improve access to high-cost specialty drugs in 2016. A vast majority of Covered California consumers will have their specialty drugs capped at $250 per month per prescription, and the caps range from $150 to $500. Many people will pay only a few dollars for their prescriptions. That ensures consumers have affordable access to medications they need to fight HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, hepatitis C, and other chronic conditions.
Covered California has served more than 2 million consumers since we began offering health coverage in January 2014. Many Californians also might be eligible for coverage through the Medi-Cal program. If you or someone you know needs help understanding your coverage options, there's free help available in your local area �" visit http://www.CoveredCA.com to find someone in your community or to enroll online.
I'm proud of the difference Covered California is making in the lives of LGBTQ Californians and the lives of millions of our friends, family members, and neighbors. That's why I want you to join me this holiday season in giving the gift of coverage �" to yourself, your friends and family, and your community. We all deserve the peace of mind that comes with having coverage that's there for us when we need it.
Peter V. Lee is Covered California's executive director. Those who need insurance can go to http://www.CoveredCA.com to learn about their options and to find locations in their community where they can get free, confidential help to enroll, or via telephone at (800) 300-1506. Covered California also has more than 500 storefront locations and thousands of certified insurance agents and enrollment counselors statewide where individuals can get help enrolling.