Health
Blood donors are needed every day for patients who need transfusions for planned medical treatments and emergencies.
During National Trauma Awareness Month in May, nonprofit blood services provider Vitalant asks all who are eligible to give and make sure blood is available for even the most unexpected events.
Alyssa Chase had a fierce passion for exploring the outdoors until a motorcycle crash caused multiple traumatic injuries and broken bones. She received six units of blood to help her to survive.
“I still travel often and hike when I can. I’m not as active as I used to be, but I try to live my life without fear, and still be careful about my health,” Chase said. “The accident changed my life, but thanks to blood donors, I’m still here today.”
Donors of every blood type play a critical role in helping patients. Type O donations are especially needed as that is the most transfused blood type.
As a special thank you to donors in May, all who give with Vitalant will automatically be entered to win one of two “Epic” vacation packages, including four tickets to Universal Epic Universe theme park at Universal Orlando Resort, travel vouchers for airfare and hotel accommodations, and a $2,500 prepaid gift card.
Learn more and make an appointment to give at vitalant.org, download and use the Vitalant blood donor app or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825).
Vitalant is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit blood and biotherapies healthcare organizations, providing hospitals and patients across the U.S. a safe blood supply, specialized laboratory services, transfusion medicine expertise and world-renowned research. Individuals generously donating blood, volunteering and giving financially are essential to our lifesaving mission.
Learn more at vitalant.org.
During National Trauma Awareness Month in May, nonprofit blood services provider Vitalant asks all who are eligible to give and make sure blood is available for even the most unexpected events.
Alyssa Chase had a fierce passion for exploring the outdoors until a motorcycle crash caused multiple traumatic injuries and broken bones. She received six units of blood to help her to survive.
“I still travel often and hike when I can. I’m not as active as I used to be, but I try to live my life without fear, and still be careful about my health,” Chase said. “The accident changed my life, but thanks to blood donors, I’m still here today.”
Donors of every blood type play a critical role in helping patients. Type O donations are especially needed as that is the most transfused blood type.
As a special thank you to donors in May, all who give with Vitalant will automatically be entered to win one of two “Epic” vacation packages, including four tickets to Universal Epic Universe theme park at Universal Orlando Resort, travel vouchers for airfare and hotel accommodations, and a $2,500 prepaid gift card.
Learn more and make an appointment to give at vitalant.org, download and use the Vitalant blood donor app or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825).
Vitalant is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit blood and biotherapies healthcare organizations, providing hospitals and patients across the U.S. a safe blood supply, specialized laboratory services, transfusion medicine expertise and world-renowned research. Individuals generously donating blood, volunteering and giving financially are essential to our lifesaving mission.
Learn more at vitalant.org.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
SACRAMENTO — Covered California announced that 345,711 Californians newly selected a health plan for 2025 during open enrollment and more than 1.6 million Californians renewed their health insurance, bringing Covered California’s overall enrollment to a record-high of 1,979,504 consumers.
Enrollment rose for the fourth consecutive year after the passage of enhanced premium tax credits through the American Rescue Plan in 2021.
The federal enhanced subsidies were supplemented by a California-only Cost-Sharing Reduction program that Californians took advantage of the past two open enrollments.
“The tremendous success during this open enrollment is the payoff from the work California has done for years to maximize the Affordable Care Act,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said. “California’s uninsured rate has continued to drop as Covered California has made it easier for consumers to find quality coverage at an affordable price.”
Open enrollment began with a record-low uninsured rate of 6.4 percent among Californians, according to federal data.
Since Covered California launched in 2014, California’s uninsured rate has fallen from 17.2 percent to 6.4 percent in 2023, which is the largest percentage point drop for any state in the nation during the ACA era.
More than 6.3 million Californians, or approximately 1 in 6, have had marketplace coverage since 2014.
“Covered California continues to deliver on the promise of the Affordable Care Act,” executive director Jessica Altman said. “The law was created to make sure all Americans could have access to health insurance. With the enhanced federal subsidies since 2021 and California’s exclusive cost-sharing-reduction program introduced last year, we have made that a reality for more Californians than ever before in 2025.”
Enhanced subsidies set to expire
That reality may change in 2026 without action from the United States Congress and President Trump to extend the enhanced subsidies after they expire at the end of this year.
Data shows that on average, consumers save an additional $101 on premium costs each month and that includes over 170,000 middle-income enrollees that are now receiving tax credits when they weren’t previously eligible. For some consumers, that means as much as $395 a month in financial assistance.
“Without an extension for the enhanced subsidies, the loss of coverage could be significant in California,” Altman said. “Every region and corner of the state would be impacted negatively — from small business owners and gig workers, to agricultural workers and residents working multiple jobs to make ends’ meet. It is imperative that federal actions are taken to keep these Americans enrolled.”
Covered California has an ongoing special-enrollment period for residents of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, where a state of emergency was declared by Gov. Newsom due to the Palisades and Eaton fires.
Uninsured residents of these two counties have until March 8 to sign up for coverage for the rest of 2025.
Signing up for coverage is easy
Consumers can learn more about their options by visiting CoveredCA.com, where they can easily find out if they qualify for financial help and see the coverage options in their area.
Those interested in learning more about their coverage options can also:
• Get free and confidential assistance over the phone, in a variety of languages, from one of more than 14,000 certified agents and community-based organizations throughout the state that provide free, confidential help in whatever language or dialect consumers prefer.
• Have a certified enroller call them and help them for free.
• Use Covered California’s online calculator tool.
• Call Covered California at 800-300-1506.
Enrollment rose for the fourth consecutive year after the passage of enhanced premium tax credits through the American Rescue Plan in 2021.
The federal enhanced subsidies were supplemented by a California-only Cost-Sharing Reduction program that Californians took advantage of the past two open enrollments.
“The tremendous success during this open enrollment is the payoff from the work California has done for years to maximize the Affordable Care Act,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said. “California’s uninsured rate has continued to drop as Covered California has made it easier for consumers to find quality coverage at an affordable price.”
Open enrollment began with a record-low uninsured rate of 6.4 percent among Californians, according to federal data.
Since Covered California launched in 2014, California’s uninsured rate has fallen from 17.2 percent to 6.4 percent in 2023, which is the largest percentage point drop for any state in the nation during the ACA era.
More than 6.3 million Californians, or approximately 1 in 6, have had marketplace coverage since 2014.
“Covered California continues to deliver on the promise of the Affordable Care Act,” executive director Jessica Altman said. “The law was created to make sure all Americans could have access to health insurance. With the enhanced federal subsidies since 2021 and California’s exclusive cost-sharing-reduction program introduced last year, we have made that a reality for more Californians than ever before in 2025.”
Enhanced subsidies set to expire
That reality may change in 2026 without action from the United States Congress and President Trump to extend the enhanced subsidies after they expire at the end of this year.
Data shows that on average, consumers save an additional $101 on premium costs each month and that includes over 170,000 middle-income enrollees that are now receiving tax credits when they weren’t previously eligible. For some consumers, that means as much as $395 a month in financial assistance.
“Without an extension for the enhanced subsidies, the loss of coverage could be significant in California,” Altman said. “Every region and corner of the state would be impacted negatively — from small business owners and gig workers, to agricultural workers and residents working multiple jobs to make ends’ meet. It is imperative that federal actions are taken to keep these Americans enrolled.”
Covered California has an ongoing special-enrollment period for residents of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, where a state of emergency was declared by Gov. Newsom due to the Palisades and Eaton fires.
Uninsured residents of these two counties have until March 8 to sign up for coverage for the rest of 2025.
Signing up for coverage is easy
Consumers can learn more about their options by visiting CoveredCA.com, where they can easily find out if they qualify for financial help and see the coverage options in their area.
Those interested in learning more about their coverage options can also:
• Get free and confidential assistance over the phone, in a variety of languages, from one of more than 14,000 certified agents and community-based organizations throughout the state that provide free, confidential help in whatever language or dialect consumers prefer.
• Have a certified enroller call them and help them for free.
• Use Covered California’s online calculator tool.
• Call Covered California at 800-300-1506.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
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