[1] This dual regulation arose due for historical reasons, and when the DMHC was created in 2000,[2] the California legislature requested a report[2] on merging the health insurer responsibilities with the CDI.
Medicaid was enacted in 1965 by the United States federal government to provide a public insurance program for low-income patients.
In 2014, a collaborative effort between UCLA and UC Berkeley produced a model aimed at estimating the impact of the ACA on insurance coverage in the state.
According to this model, at some point in time, an estimated 1.1 to 1.3 million Californians will be enrolled in Covered California.
Simultaneously, Medi-Cal enrollment is anticipated to reach an unprecedented high, ranging from 7.4 to 7.8 million individuals.
This cautious approach stems from its reliance on 2014 data, preventing precise predictions of the evolving landscape of health insurance programs in subsequent years.
Nevertheless, the model serves as a tool for policymakers and researchers, facilitating an understanding of how diverse segments of the population are likely to be covered under various health insurance plans.
Kaiser Permanente and Blue Shield of California had about two-thirds of the market share as of 2018.
Two bills in the California State Legislature that would have implemented universal health coverage were vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006 and 2008, respectively.