Monica Soni, chief medical officer with Covered California, speaks at a news conference at Woodward Park Wednesday. Photo by Ben Hensley

Covered California kicked off the 2024 open enrollment season for health coverage with a news conference in Fresno Wednesday at the Shinzen Japanese Friendship Garden at Woodward Park.

The event — held at the Shinzen garden’s Double Moon Bridge — highlighted the provider’s role in bridging the gap between Californians and affordable health insurance.

Representatives from Fresno health care facilities and physician and District 31 Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula spoke to the media providing statistics, information and experiences working with patients, as well as some of the reasons why residents remain uninsured..

Arambula cited one of the primary concerns for most California residents — cost.

“I saw firsthand how so many in our community are unable to seek preventative care,” Arambula said. “Because of their fears or inability to afford the care that they were seeking, they oftentimes would delay care or not get any care at all until their very last moments and seconds of their lives.”

Arambula said he has made it a focus of his office to advocate for available health insurance for all Californians.

Covered California has more than 1.6 million enrollees as the open enrollment opens. Despite this, more than 1.3 million Californians are currently uninsured.

Covered California hopes to spread the word through media appearances and campaigns that low-cost or no-cost health insurance is available to many through Covered California or Medi-Cal.

“Covered California is bridging the gap by helping Californians access affordable quality health insurance,” said Jessica Altman, executive director of Covered California. “This open enrollment period we are reminding uninsured Californians that affordable options are available to them and they can access the quality health care they need to protect themselves and those they love for 2024.”

Covered California operates as an independent part of the state government and aims to provide Californians with coverage plans from top insurance companies. Customers may qualify for financial assistance on a sliding scale, and are able to compare health plans from providers at various rates.

Applicants can apply for coverage at coveredca.com/apply/. Open enrollment through Covered California is available from Nov. 1 through Jan. 31.