FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 6, 2019

Open Door Community Health Centers Receives Major Covered California Grant to Ensure the Move to Universal Coverage Includes Humboldt and Del Norte Counties

  • Open Door Community Health Centers is one of only 100 agencies funded in communities across California to make sure hard-to-reach populations that are uninsured and eligible for financial help through Covered California get the information and support they need to sign up for coverage.
  • Approximately 89 percent of Californians live within a 15-minute drive of these community-based organizations.

May 24, 2019, Calif. — Covered California announced Friday that it intends to partner with Open Door Community Health Centers — and dozens of other community-based organizations — to educate consumers about their health care options, offer free in-person enrollment and renewal assistance and provide ongoing support with getting the best value from their health plan. The Navigator grants are part of Covered California’s ongoing commitment to work with trusted organizations throughout the state to help hard-to-reach groups understand this new era of health care.

“We know it is important for consumers in Northern California to get confidential, one-on-one help in their communities,” said Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee. “Community-based organizations like Open Door Community Health Centers are important to their communities and instrumental in helping Californians sign up for the plan that works best for them.”

Open Door Community Health Centers is a non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center that has been in partnership with Covered California since 2014 providing outreach, education, and enrollment support for consumers enrolling in health care coverage.  Open Door Community Health Centers has 13 clinics, and 3 mobile clinics, spread throughout Humboldt and Del Norte counties, serving approximately 50,000 patients a year and employing over 500 members of the community. Today, Covered California has issued an intent to award funding to Open Door Community Health Centers for the next grant cycle period 2019-2022 with $50,000 for the fiscal year 2019-2020. With this grant, Open Door Community Health Centers will provide services to Del Norte and Humboldt County residents with a targeted outreach effort to diverse and underserved populations.

“Open Door has been committed to improving the lives of our friends and neighbors on the North Coast for the past 48 years,” said Breanne Olmstead, Open Door’s Director of Member Services. “When more people have access to quality health care, our communities become stronger and everyone benefits.”

Since the launch of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Open Door Community Health Centers has helped more than 1,600 consumers enroll in coverage.

“Health coverage is something that needs to be sold, particularly to young and healthy individuals who are not familiar with insurance,” Lee said. “In addition, health care is local. We are proud to bring the health care message to Northern California in partnership with Open Door Community Health Centers to make sure we get everyone we can covered with health insurance that meets their needs.”

“Working with Open Door Community Health Centers is a tremendous opportunity to expand Covered California’s reach throughout the state,” said Terri Convey, director of Covered California’s Individual and Small Business Outreach and Sales Division. “For many people, there is nothing better than being able to sit down with someone in their community who can explain their options and help them make the best choice.”

Read Covered California’s press release here, https://www.coveredca.com/newsroom/news-releases/2019/05/24/covered-california-announces-grants-to-community-based-organizations-across-california-in-preparation-for-2020-and-beyond/, and view the list of Navigator organizations and the amount Covered California intends to award to each group.

The Navigator program is funded by revenue generated by Covered California. Organizations were selected through a competitive grant application process.