Covered California Releases Options to Improve Health
Insurance Market Affordability Report
On February 1, 2019, Covered California has released their health
care affordability
report to the Governor, Legislature, and Council on Health
Care Delivery Systems. Covered California’s report describes how
the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has advanced the
individual health insurance market, while acknowledging the
remaining affordability challenges. The report details three
options to improving affordability for individual market
enrollees and the eligible uninsured and an overview of key
policy and decisions needed to implement the affordability
options.
$500 million in HEAP Funding Awarded
The Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council has announced
that all eligible entities applied for and were awarded a total
of $500 million in Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP)
funding. The grant funds were distributed among 11 large
cities and 43 Continuums of Care (COCs).
The $500 million one-time funding provides immediate assistance
for homeless individuals and individuals risk of homelessness.
The only requirements were that the money be used to address
homelessness, that each city or county declares a shelter crisis
in order to receive money and that five percent of all grants
must be used for emergency assistance for homeless youth.
