MENDOCINO CO., 10/8/25 — Hundreds of thousands of Californians, Mendocino County residents among them, who use Covered California for their health insurance could lose coverage next year. Covered California is the state’s marketplace set up under the federal Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, that passed in March, 2010. California set up its own marketplace with the Affordable Care Act as a guideline. In Mendocino County, an estimated 5,000 people, about 5.25% of residents, are enrolled under Covered California.

Individuals using Covered California are not provided health insurance by their employer. Many are self-employed and have no other access to health insurance. It’s unclear how many Mendocino County residents could lose coverage either from insurance rates becoming unaffordable or being declared ineligible for lowered rates. Some may simply drop off when automatic renewal of eligibility is discontinued in 2028.