What to know about Covered California open enrollment

Open enrollment for Covered California kicked off Monday with Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi along with state and local leaders urging residents to sign up early.

This year's open enrollment comes as major health care funding challenges are at the heart of the current government shutdown.

As Covered California opens its 2026 enrollment period, the agency is warning it expects federal tax credits, which make coverage more affordable for lower- and middle-income residents could expire in a matter of months -- unless Congress takes action to extend them.

Without an extension, monthly premiums are projected to rise an average of 97% for more than 1.7 million Californians who rely on federal credits to reduce the cost.

Democrats have warned more than 150,000 Californians could be priced out o