Covered California Account Access and Documentation Changes -

A Covered California update in June will require consumers to access accounts with either a text or email authorization code. There have also been numerous changes to how identities are verified along with income verification. These updates are part of Covered California’s intelligent document processing improvements.

Covered California will require either text or email authorization codes to access consumer accounts.

Account Access with Text or Email Message

As part of Covered California’s focus on security they will be eliminating answers to security questions for consumers to access their accounts. Moving forward, consumers will need to register a mobile phone or an email address to receive a verification code. The one-time passcode is then entered in the system and access is granted to the consumer’s account.

You must register a mobile phone number or email address to receive the auth codes.

Covered California text passcode to access account.

Covered California Document Verification Changes

The account verification code update is part of Covered California’s intelligent document process updates. For consumers and agents, the improvements should expedite identity verification, immigration status verification, and proof of income. All these conditions could require the uploading of documents that were cumbersome for Covered California to handle on a manual basis.

The Covered California system can pick up data fields on documents to compare with other federal databases to verify identity.

The Covered California application has been updated to better recognize and process documents related to confirming the identity of the applicant. With just the information on the application (name, address, date of birth, and social security number) the system can now quickly verify the applicant. Covered California has done away with the identity proofing questions.

New error messages for documents that Covered California cannot process.

For individuals with little history filing taxes, the Covered California system has been improved to verify the applicant’s identity from an uploaded document such as driver’s license. If the photo identification still doesn’t work, Covered California can send a link to a smartphone or tablet to confirm identity. There are also improvements for uploaded documents to verify the applicant and other household members’ lawful permanent residence.

Intelligent Document Processing

Probably the nicest improvement is the system alerting the consumer of inconsistencies. For example, if the documents you uploaded to verify income state a different dollar amount than what is entered on the application. The new process will alert you to the difference. The system will also give you the ability to explain the discrepancy.

Covered California, when possible, will alert consumers about data mismatches.

If the document cannot be read by Covered California, you will get an alert. A clear image is important because the system can identify certain fields with characters (letters and numbers) and use that information to verify things like income, identity, and citizenship.