How to cancel Covered California coverage

You can cancel your Covered California plan at any time by contacting Covered California directly, either online through your account, by phone, or by mail. The cancellation takes effect on the date you request, or on a date you specify — you do not have to wait for your plan year to end. Covered California will send you written confirmation of the cancellation.

The process itself is straightforward, but the timing matters. If you cancel mid-month, you may still owe premiums for that month depending on when in the month you cancel. If you have outstanding bills, Covered California may pursue collection. If you are cancelling because you found coverage elsewhere, make sure your new coverage starts before your Covered California plan ends, so you do not have a gap.

Key Takeaways

  • Contact Covered California by phone at 1-800-300-1506, through your online account, or by mail to request cancellation.
  • Your cancellation takes effect on the date you request or a future date you choose, not automatically at month-end or plan year-end.
  • You remain responsible for premiums through the last day of coverage, even if you cancel mid-month.
  • If you are switching to employer coverage, Medicare, or Medi-Cal, confirm your new coverage starts before your Covered California plan ends.

Cancellation by phone or online account

The fastest way to cancel is through your Covered California online account. Log in, go to your plan details, and look for the cancellation or termination option. You will be asked to confirm the date you want the cancellation to take effect. Covered California will show you a summary of what happens next, including your final bill if any.

If you prefer to speak to someone, call Covered California at 1-800-300-1506. The phone line is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific time, and Saturday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific time. Have your member ID ready. The representative will walk you through the cancellation and confirm the effective date.

Cancellation by mail

You can also cancel by sending a written request to Covered California. Address your letter to Covered California, P.O. Box 989725, West Sacramento, CA 95798-9725. Include your name, date of birth, member ID, and the date you want your coverage to end. Mail cancellation takes longer to process — allow at least two weeks for Covered California to receive and act on your letter.

Keep a copy of your letter and consider sending it by certified mail so you have proof of when Covered California received it. This matters if there is a dispute later about when your coverage actually ended.

What happens to your final bill

If you cancel mid-month, you owe premiums through the last day of coverage. For example, if your plan ends on the 15th of the month, you owe a prorated premium for those 15 days. Covered California will calculate this and send you a bill. If you have already paid for the full month, Covered California may issue a refund, though this can take several weeks.

If you have unpaid premiums from earlier months, Covered California will not cancel your plan until you pay them or set up a payment plan. Contact Covered California to discuss payment options before you request cancellation if you know you have arrears.

Cancellation and your tax information

If you received a tax credit or cost-sharing reduction to lower your premiums, cancelling mid-year affects your taxes. Covered California reports the months you were covered to the IRS. When you file taxes, you will report the actual months of coverage, and the IRS will reconcile the tax credits you received against the credits you were actually due. If you received more credit than you were may have access to to, you may owe money back at tax time.

This is not a reason to avoid cancelling — it is simply something to expect. Keep your Covered California cancellation confirmation and any final bills for your tax records.

Switching to another health plan without a gap

If you are cancelling Covered California because you have new coverage — through an employer, Medicare, Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California), or a spouse's plan — do not cancel Covered California until your new coverage is active. A gap in coverage can leave you uninsured and liable for medical bills.

Contact your new plan to confirm the start date in writing. Then cancel Covered California for the day before your new coverage begins, or on the same day if your new plan's effective date is the first of the month. If your new coverage is delayed, keep your Covered California plan active until you have a confirmed start date from the new plan.

If you want to cancel but keep coverage

If you want to change plans within Covered California rather than cancel entirely, you do not need to cancel first. You can switch plans during the annual open enrollment period (usually November 1 to January 31) or if you have a may have access to life event — such as losing employer coverage, moving, getting married, or having a child. Contact Covered California to request a plan change, and your new plan will start on the first of the following month.

If you are outside open enrollment and do not have a may have access to event, you cannot switch plans until the next open enrollment period. In that case, cancelling and reapplying is not an option — Covered California will not let you enroll again until open enrollment or until you have a may have access to event.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel my Covered California plan effective immediately?

Yes. You can request that your cancellation take effect on the date you call or submit your request, or you can choose any future date. Covered California will honor the date you specify. You will owe premiums through that final date.

What if I cancel but then want coverage back?

You can re-enroll during the annual open enrollment period (November 1 to January 31) or if you have a may have access to life event such as losing coverage, moving, or getting married. Outside those windows, you cannot re-enroll until the next open enrollment period.

Do I have to pay a cancellation fee?

No. Covered California does not charge a cancellation fee. You owe only the prorated premium for the days you were covered in your final month.

Will cancelling affect my Medi-Cal coverage?

Cancelling Covered California does not automatically cancel Medi-Cal. If you are enrolled in both, you will need to contact your county Medi-Cal office separately if you want to end Medi-Cal coverage. If you cancel Covered California and keep Medi-Cal, your Medi-Cal coverage continues.

What if I cancel but Covered California says I still owe money?

Contact Covered California to ask about the debt. You may owe unpaid premiums from earlier months, or a prorated amount for your final month. Ask whether you can set up a payment plan. Covered California may also refer the debt to a collection agency if it remains unpaid.