California Health Insurance

How healthy is living in California?

California climbed to #23 – up one spot from its 2008 ranking as the 24th healthiest state to live in – according to a study by the United Health Foundation.

The good news:

• The state earned high marks for its low prevalence of smoking, low rates of occupational fatalities, cancer deaths and infant mortaility.
• The prevalence of smoking in the state continued to drop, and was down from 16.8 percent to 14 percent of the population over the past five years.

The bad news:

• In the past year, the percentage of California children under age 18 classified as "in poverty" climbed from 17.9 percent to 20.2 percent. The high school graduation rate, meanwhile, fell from 74.6 percent to 69.2 percent.

The state's best and worst category ratings:

• Prevalence of smoking – 2nd
• Occupational fatalities – 3rd
• Infant mortality – 5th
• Cancer deaths – 6th
• Prenatal care – 9th
• Prevalence of obesity – 9th
• Public health funding – 10th
• Preventable hospitalizations – 10th
• Poor mental health days – 41st
• Infectious disease – 43rd
• Lack of health insurance – 44th
• Air pollution – 47th

See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on California.

Does California have a risk pool for the uninsurable?

California Major Risk Medical Insurance Program
Toll-free 1-800-289-6574 or (916) 324-4695

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Starting in 2010, California will offer health coverage to residents through the federally established temporary high-risk pool program. To find out more about California's participation, click here.

Risk pools are state-sponsored programs to help people with a history of medical problems in their family to purchase coverage. These pools are for people who can afford to buy health insurance, but are not able to get underwritten in the private market because of a pre-existing health condition. These programs can vary significantly from state to state in price, benefits and number of people served. Often insurance companies doing business in the state are required to contribute to the pool to keep it in the black. In the best cases, they allow people to be able to switch jobs or become self-employed without the fear of losing their health insurance coverage. Read more about risk pools here.

Cover The Uninsured's guide on finding health insurance in California

Cover The Uninsured is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to demand solutions from our nation's leaders. Read more information on its efforts. It is a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

• Cover The Uninsured's facts on the uninsured in California and all other states.
• Its guide on how to find health insurance in California.
• Materiales En Español – Guías para encontrar cobertura de seguro de salud.

Georgetown University's Guide to Health Insurance in California

Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute has researched and written state-by-state guides for finding and keeping health insurance. It updates these guides as federal and state policies change. A number of non-profit organizations help fund its research. Learn more about the Health Policy Institute.

Review Georgetown's guide for California.

USNews health insurance rankings for California

US News does an annual ranking of what it considers the best health insurance plans in each state. Visit its reports on various health insurance or medical insurance plans being offered in California.

Official State Goverment Sites with California Health Insurance Information

California Department of Health Care Services and California Department of Public Health
-- A 2007 reorganization has split into two the official government Web sites for departments responsible for health care services for Californians.

Medicare information from California State Department of Aging -- State government resources for Californians needing help with Medicare and other government health insurance programs on federal, state and local levels.

Office of Multicultural Health, California State Department of Health Services-- The state agency which tries to reduce inequality in health status, information and resources on multicultural health.

Consumer Information from the California State Department of Insurance -- Health insurance topics and information geared specially for consumers.

California State Department of Insurance -- Deals with issues of individual health insurance in California, as well as other types of insurance.

Health Care Advocacy Groups in California

Health Access California – Health Access California is a non-profit organization dedicated to achieving quality, affordable health care for all Californians. For more than 15 years, Health Access has played a significant role in leading the movement for health care reform in California. Health Access has promoted universal health care proposals and advocated for specific incremental reforms that promise to provide immediate health care services to California's most vulnerable populations.

California Association of Health Plans – The Association promotes affordable health care for California consumers through legislative advocacy, informational communications and collaboration with other organizations.

California HealthCare Foundation – The foundation is an independent philanthropy committed to improving California's health care delivery and financing systems and to ensure that all Californians have access to affordable, quality health care.

Health Care for All–California – HCA is a nonprofit grassroots organization working for high quality, universal, single-payer health care.

Vote Health Coalition – Vote Health's mission is to win accessible, high-quality health care for everyone, regardless of legal status or ability to pay.