Few And Far Between: Health Insurance Choices In Rural Northern California
In a three-part series, Capital Public Radio explores why rural northern Californians are facing new challenges with individual health insurance. When market rules took effect through the Affordable Care Act in 2014, major insurers in the area changed consumer benefits and vastly cut back on where they sell policies. The result, for many consumers in Northern California, has been fewer plan choices, restricted doctor access, and a lot of confusion about whether coverage will be there when they need it.
Stories related to: Few And Far Between
December 18, 2014
| Pauline Bartolone
In 22 Northern California counties, some health insurance customers have only one carrier choice in Covered California. We go to a rural community north of Quincy to find out what that's like.
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Health Care
December 17, 2014
| Pauline Bartolone
Blue Shield of California stopped selling policies to individuals in 250 zip codes in 2014. The coverage area reduction is especially felt in Northern California, where consumers have few choices through Covered California.
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Health Care
December 16, 2014
| Pauline Bartolone
Anthem Blue Cross, the largest insurer in Covered California's Northern California region, ended an out-of-state benefit for individual planholders this year. Blue Shield of California plans in the region also restrict care to within state lines.
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Zip Codes In Northern California Without Blue Shield
Use our zip code search box to see if your zip code is among those where Blue Shield of California pulled out in 2014. When you finish the search, hit 'X' to return to the full map.
*Specific zip codes in forest areas are not represented in the map. You can view those zip codes here. Data provided by the Department of Managed Health Care.
Digital Production: Marnette Federis
