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Covered California Enrollment Launched – Healthcare Help Available for All Californians

A recent California Healthcare Foundation (CHCF) survey found that 90% of Black Californians have health insurance coverage, but nearly 1 in 3 reported being treated unfairly by a healthcare provider because of their race or ethnicity. “Just because Black folks are covered, doesn’t mean they are getting quality care,” said Congresswoman Karen Bass, a former physician’s assistant. “That has nothing to do with Covered California per se. It has to do with the inequities in the healthcare system. And having worked in the healthcare for a long time, I know that those inequities exist, and its across class.

Published

3 years ago

November 15, 2022

Oakland Post

(Left to right) Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman, Covered California consumer Zhang Yue, Secretary of United States Department of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, Congresswoman Karen Bass, and Secretary of California Health and Human Services Agency Dr. Mark Ghaly launch the 10th open enrollment period for Covered California at Union Station in Los Angeles on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. Photo by Maxim Elramsisy.

By Maxim Elramsisy | California Black Media

California’s health insurance marketplace, known as the Covered California Health Exchange, launched its 10^th open enrollment period on November 1.

Covered California is the government agency that offers subsidized Obamacare plans for Californians. Those who qualify receive financial assistance on a sliding scale for their health coverage in compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Depending on income, some consumers may qualify for another state-provided health insurance option, Medi-Cal, at a lower or no cost.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra joined Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA-37), Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and other Covered California leaders at Union Station in Los Angeles to kick off open enrollment.

“We saw from COVID how many gaps there are in our public health care system. First and foremost, we’ve got to get people covered. They know they have that peace of mind if they can walk into any doctor’s door, into any hospital. It gives them the confidence to do it the right way,” said Becerra. “That’s why we’re going to continue to expand. When you can offer an American health insurance plan for $10 or less a month; you can’t go see a movie today, not in L.A., for $10… $10 or less a month for peace of mind. That’s what we’re selling.”

Since Covered California’s first open enrollment campaign in 2013, federal data shows that California’s uninsured rate fell from 17.2% to a record low of 7.0%, the greatest percentage decrease for any state in that period, and below the national average of 8.6%.

Publicly funded Certified Enrollment Counselors, or “navigators,” provide consumers with free, unbiased advice as they look for health insurance options available on the marketplace. They help complete eligibility and enrollment forms, and they assist with outreach, education, and renewal support services.

“We just came out with a report that showed that in the past year, because we went out to where you were to try to get to you, especially with our navigators, we saw a rise in the number of African American enrollees by 49%. And we saw a rise in the number of Latino enrollees by 53%,” said Becerra.

Still, according to estimates from Covered California, 1 million people are uninsured and eligible to get insured with low-cost or no-cost plans.

“Regardless of your income, if you need health insurance or if you’re covered directly through a health insurance company, come to Covered California to see if you can get financial help to make your insurance more affordable,” said Jessica Altman, executive director of Covered California. “The increased and expanded help that was extended by the Inflation Reduction Act is changing lives by helping more Californians get covered and stay covered.”

Getting and maintaining coverage is a critical first step that cannot be overstated, some health advocates say, but the healthcare system still has opportunities to better serve Black Californians.

“Just because Black folks are covered, doesn’t mean they are getting quality care,” said Bass, a former physician’s assistant. “That has nothing to do with Covered California per se. It has to do with the inequities in the healthcare system. And having worked in the healthcare for a long time, I know that those inequities exist, and its across class.

“So, when Beyoncé and Serena Williams almost lose their lives after a normal childbirth, it’s indicative of problems that are related specifically to race.”

The best remedy at this time is engagement. According to the CHCF survey, two thirds of Black Californians report researching a health condition or concern before meeting with a healthcare provider to mitigate potential negative experiences, an observation Bass agrees with.

“The main thing that people can do is make sure that they are well educated. In other words, when you go to a doctor, don’t just leave it 100% up to the doctor, study up on what they are saying,” Bass said. “We need to have advocates inside of healthcare who are trained – sometimes there are medical social workers who do that.”

Californians can explore their options at CoveredCA.com or by calling Covered California at (800) 300-1506. They can easily find out if they qualify for financial help and see what coverage options are available.

The open enrollment period will continue until Jan. 31, 2023.

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COMMENTARY: The Vote to Deny the Deniers

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OP-ED: AB 1349 Puts Corporate Power Over Community

Since Ticketmaster and Live Nation merged in 2010, ticket prices have jumped more than 150 percent. Activities that once fit a family’s budget now take significant disposable income that most working families simply don’t have. The problem is compounded by a system that has tilted access toward the wealthy and white-collar workers. If you have a fancy credit card, you get “presale access,” and if you work in an office instead of a warehouse, you might be able to wait in an online queue to buy a ticket. Access now means privilege.

Published

4 days ago

January 9, 2026

Oakland Post

Bishop Joseph Simmons, Senior Pastor, Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, Oakland

By Bishop Joseph Simmons, Senior Pastor, Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, Oakland

As a pastor, I believe in the power that a sense of community can have on improving people’s lives. Live events are one of the few places where people from different backgrounds and ages can share the same space and experience – where construction workers sit next to lawyers at a concert, and teenagers enjoy a basketball game with their grandparents. Yet, over the past decade, I’ve witnessed these experiences – the concerts, games, and cultural events where we gather – become increasingly unaffordable, and it is a shame.

These moments of connection matter as they form part of the fabric that holds communities together. But that fabric is fraying because of Ticketmaster/Live Nation’s unchecked control over access to live events. Unfortunately, AB 1349 would only further entrench their corporate power over our spaces.

Power over live events is concentrated in a single corporate entity, and this regime operates without transparency or accountability – much like a dictator. Ticketmaster controls 80 percent of first-sale tickets and nearly a third of resale tickets, but they still want more. More power, more control for Ticketmaster means higher prices and less access for consumers. It’s the agenda they are pushing nationally, with the help of former Trump political operatives, who are quietly trying to undo the antitrust lawsuit launched against Ticketmaster/Live Nation under President Biden’s DOJ.

That’s why I’m deeply concerned about AB 1349 in its current form. Rather than reining in Ticketmaster’s power, the bill risks strengthening it, aligning with Trump. AB 1349 gives Ticketmaster the ability to control a consumer’s ticket forever by granting Ticketmaster’s regime new powers in state law to prevent consumers from reselling or giving away their tickets. It also creates new pathways for Ticketmaster to discriminate and retaliate against consumers who choose to shop around for the best service and fees on resale platforms that aren’t yet controlled by Ticketmaster. These provisions are anti-consumer and anti-democratic.

California has an opportunity to stand with consumers, to demand transparency, and to restore genuine competition in this industry. But that requires legislation developed with input from the community and faith leaders, not proposals backed by the very company causing the harm.

Will our laws reflect fairness, inclusion, and accountability? Or will we let corporate interests tighten their grip on spaces that should belong to everyone? I, for one, support the former and encourage the California Legislature to reject AB 1349 outright or amend it to remove any provisions that expand Ticketmaster’s control. I also urge community members to contact their representatives and advocate for accessible, inclusive live events for all Californians. Let’s work together to ensure these gathering spaces remain open and welcoming to everyone, regardless of income or background.

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Oakland Post: Week of December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

Published

2 weeks ago

January 2, 2026

Oakland Post

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Big God Ministry Gives Away Toys in Marin City

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grow up.

Published

2 weeks ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

From top left: Pastor David Hall asking the children what they want to be when they grow up. Worship team Jake Monaghan, Ruby Friedman, and Keri Carpenter. Children lining up to receive their presents. Photos by Godfrey Lee.

By Godfrey Lee

Big God Ministries, pastored by David Hall, gave toys to the children in Marin City on Monday, Dec. 15, on the lawn near the corner of Drake Avenue and Donahue Street.

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grew up.

Around 75 parents and children were there to receive the presents, which consisted mainly of Gideon Bibles, Cat in the Hat pillows, Barbie dolls, Tonka trucks, and Lego building sets.

A half dozen volunteers from the Big God Ministry, including Donnie Roary, helped to set up the tables for the toy giveaway. The worship music was sung by Ruby Friedman, Keri Carpenter, and Jake Monaghan, who also played the accordion.

Big God Ministries meets on Sundays at 10 a.m. at the Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA Their phone number is (415) 797-2567.