Question: Covered California promises a first class user experience, yet application processing times by Healthy Families and Medi-Cal have been horrendous, sometimes stretching to weeks, even months. How can this state agency be so much better than its predecessors?

Answer: That’s a fair question and only time will tell if they can deliver on their promises. Here’s what they are saying about their goals for application precessing.

• Complete on-line applications received by in the Covered California System, that do not require the resolution of any inconsistency will occur “real time” and immediately.
• Complete telephone applications received that do not require the resolution of any inconsistency will occur “real time” and immediately.
• Complete paper or fax applications that are received and do not require resolution of any inconsistency will be processed within 10 calendar days of receipt. (The goal is actually five (5) business days from the date of receipt of the application.).
• On-line, telephone, paper or faxed applications that require the resolution of inconsistency will result in the consumer being conditionally eligible for Covered California subsidies, if their self- reported information qualifies them for coverage. Their conditional eligibility will be for the 90-day reasonable opportunity period which provides consumers adequate time to resolve the inconsistency.