Healthy kids make good learners, so Natomas Unified School District is partnering with a children’s advocacy group to offer an informational and sign-up event for health insurance offered through Covered California, a state-operated exchange.
The session, titled “All In – Health Care for All Families,” will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, January 25, at Natomas High School library, 3301 Fong Ranch Rd, Sacramento. The Children’s Partnership, a child advocacy group, is coordinating the event in partnership with NUSD, the California Department of Education, California School Boards Association and Covered California. Participants need not be Natomas residents.
“It’s a perfect opportunity for a one-stop shop,” Melissa Vargas, manager of the event. “Folks can get information and enroll, right then and there.”
The Natomas High School gathering is consistent with a new federal mandate, the Affordable Care Act, requiring most adults to have private or public health insurance, such as Medi-Cal or Medicare, for themselves and their children. The mandate is punishable by a fine that will grow over the next three years.
The Natomas event will include discussion of issues ranging from federal requirements to the scope of benefits offered through Covered California and potential public subsidies based on household size and income. Qualified households also will be given the opportunity to apply for public health coverage.
Federal law requires proof of citizenship or immigration status to apply for any of numerous insurance policies offered through state exchanges, such as Covered California. Participants to the Natomas High School event should bring information about income, federal taxes paid, and any health insurance offered to a family member by an employer.
Residents wanting to schedule specific appointments to obtain coverage through Covered California at the Natomas High School event should call 916-844-2413 by Wednesday, January 22.
