LAKEPORT
Supervisors proclaim Agricultural Day, discuss county’s ‘rich agricutural history’
On Tuesday, the Lakeport Board of Supervisors held their meeting in the Lakeport Chambers and online via Zoom at 9 a.m. During the meeting the Board submitted a proclamation establishing that day as Lake County’s Agricultural Day. They also heard public concern regarding deteriorating levees in Upper Lake and brought back the “Pet of the Week”.
The meeting began on a light note with the Department of Animal Controls “Pet of the Week” presentation by Mary Pashki, who introduced Buddy, a very well-behaved Anatolian Shepherd mix. According to Pashki “Most of these dogs don’t walk well on leashes and he’s amazing on a leash.” Buddy is available for adoption among many other eager and loving dogs and can be found on their website along with applications for adoption.
During the public comment, Julia Carrera, an Upper Lake resident and business owner said she was highly worried about the local levee system and their level of disarray. Carrera stated “About 50 feet of one of the bordering banks has fallen off and about 1000 feet is currently moving downhill.” Her concern is “that the levee is compromised at this moment and actually will break if we have a significant rain event and the hydrology involved with that will take out the businesses and residences of Upper Lake.”
Robert Partid, long time pear farmer and resident of Upper Lake also spoke on the subject, referencing how “he’s been flooded five times over 40 years because of maintenance of the levee.” He further explained the hazard it presents when “I have equipment out there getting flooded, trailers and semis that go on the road.” Supervisor Scott responded that “Lake County Water Resources is in the process of getting permits to be able to go into those creeks.”
District 5 Supervisor Pyska announced the proclamation designating March 22 as National Agriculture Day. Pyska described how “Lake County has a long and rich agricultural history, starting in the 1850s when early settlers planted the first vineyard followed in 1890 with the planting of the bartlett pears.” Pyska further discussed how California is a national leader in the farm industry, producing 1/3 of the countries vegetables and 2/3 of the countries fruit and nuts, and that the dedication of this day aims to “celebrate the achievements of the more than one million people who work throughout the year in Lake County and California’s number one industry.”
—Nikki Carboni
SACRAMENTO
California reminds uninsured consumers they may still sign up for coverage
Wednesday marked the 12th anniversary of the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, the most significant improvement to America’s health care system since the passage of Medicaid and Medicare more than five decades ago. On this anniversary, Covered California celebrates the progress made since passage of this groundbreaking law and is reminding people that they may still be able to sign up for comprehensive coverage during the current special-enrollment period.
“California celebrates the 12th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act with a record enrollment of 1.8 million people, record-low uninsured rates and a tremendous sense of pride that comes from providing affordable coverage and helping save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jessica Altman, executive director of Covered California. “The door may still be open to you if you need health insurance, because Californians can still sign up for comprehensive coverage through Covered California if they have a change in their life circumstances.”
As a result of California’s leadership to fully leverage the Affordable Care Act, Covered California has provided coverage for over 5 million Californians since first opening its doors in 2014.
Through the federal law’s expansion of Medicaid, millions more have enrolled through California’s Medi-Cal program. Taken together, California’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act has resulted in a drop in the state’s uninsured rate to a record-low 6 percent in 2020. Communities of color have been among the biggest beneficiaries of Affordable Care Act policies in California, with the uninsured rate for Latinos decreasing by 50 percent, and by nearly 66 percent for Black and Asian American/Pacific Islander consumers.
The federal American Rescue Plan built on the Affordable Care Act in significant ways, reducing consumer premiums costs to record lows and expanding eligibility for premium savings to middle-income individuals and families. As Covered California lauds the Affordable Care Act, the exchange also encourages Californians to take advantage of the financial help provided by the American Rescue Plan if they qualify for coverage during this year’s special-enrollment period.
Special enrollment qualifying life events
Although Covered California’s open-enrollment period ended on Jan. 31, there are many life changes that allow Californians to enroll right now. The most common qualifying life events are losing health coverage, getting married, having a baby, permanently moving to California or moving within California.
In addition, there are several qualifying life events that are available due to the public health emergency and the American Rescue Plan:
- You or a family member have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- You have a household income under 150 percent of the federal poverty level, which is less than $19,320 for an individual and $39,750 for a family of four.
- Eligible consumers in this income bracket would qualify for a Silver 94 plan, the best coverage available through Covered California, at no cost.
- You paid the penalty because you did not have health insurance.
A full list of qualifying life events can be found online at https://www.coveredca.com/support/before-you-buy/qualifying-life-events/
Consumers can easily check out their eligibility and options at CoveredCA.com
—Submitted
