Question: What is the advantage of signing up through Covered California, instead of directly through through Kaiser?

Answer: Your income may make you eligible for premium assistance and Covered California is the only place to enroll for health insurance coverage with premium assistance. When you apply through Covered California you agree to file taxes each year and to allow Covered California to access your tax records through the IRS. When you apply directly through a California health insurance carrier like Kaiser Permanente - referred to as an off-exchange enrollment - you are not asked to provide any income related information whatsoever. Off-exchange, you will find more available health plan, some that mirror the Covered California plans exactly in benefits and rates, and other plans that are unique to the off-exchange-market.