Agents: More Insurance Options Outside Covered California, But No Subsidies

The California Association of Health Underwriters says you could look in the broader health insurance marketplace if you haven't found the right plan.

Neil Crosby of the Association says there are more insurance carriers outside of the exchange, and there may be different provider networks and benefits, too.

 “Some of the health plans choose not to participate in the exchange in California and across the country, and Covered California also wanted to limit the insurance plans they offered,” says Crosby.

Crosby says you can only get government subsidies through Covered California, but there's no reason to shop in the exchange.

“If their income isn’t low enough to where they qualify for a subsidy, there really isn’t much reason for them to go into Covered California when there’s more plans and more options and more companies available off-exchange,” he says.

You can use an insurance agent at no charge - but not all agents may know about all the available plans.