A growing number of Californians are losing their jobs and their health insurance. But now there's a free service that helps people figure out what subsidized coverage plans they may be eligible for. KPBS Reporter Kenny Goldberg has more.
The service is run by the Foundation for Health Coverage Education.
People can call a toll free number 24 hours a day. They'll speak with a counselor who gives them a five-question eligibility test. The counselor then tells them about all of their options.
Ray Rivera recently lost his job and his health insurance.
"I was actually staring at the ceiling wondering what I was going to do and how I was going to get some help," Rivera says. "I've been working for 17 years straight. So I was pretty concerned about how I was gonna address this issue of healthcare."
Using the service, Rivera found out he was entitled to a steep discount on his health insurance. And he was told his kids could get covered through the Healthy Families program.
Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.
