The Orange County Board of Supervisors last week held off a vote on whether to change a county law to allow CalOptima, the largest health insurer in the county, to offer private insurance plans directly to consumers.
CalOptima is California’s largest county-organized healthcare system, offering healthcare to low-income residents. The system serves about 911,000 members—about one in four county residents.
Currently, six Covered California plans are available in the county, offered by private health insurers. If approved by the board, CalOptima would become the first public agency to offer a plan.
Though the federal government has yet to announce an end to the nation’s COVID-19 state of emergency, the end of the emergency declaration will cause states to redetermine whether individuals continue to be eligible for Medicaid—a public insurance program that provides free or low-cost medical services for people with lower income….