Access secure messages, tax documents, and enrollment information when you need them.

You may have received an email from Covered California telling you that a secure message is waiting in your account. But if you have never created your own online account, how will you read it?

As an independent health insurance agent and certified Covered California agent, I encourage clients to create their own accounts—even when an agent or customer service representative has handled their enrollment. Your account gives you direct access to important information without having to wait for someone else to retrieve it.

Read secure messages—not just email alerts

Covered California emphasizes privacy and security. Rather than including sensitive personal or health information in an email or text message, it directs you to your account to read secure messages.

That distinction matters: an email alert tells you there is something to review, but it does not give you the full message. Without access to your account, you could miss important information.

This is especially important if you have chosen paperless correspondence. Receiving an email notification is not the same as opening and reading the document in your account.

Find your Form 1095-A before tax time

Your account contains tax documents, including Form 1095-A, that you or your tax preparer may need to reconcile the premium subsidies you received through Covered California.

I sometimes receive calls in early April—or even April 14—from clients who cannot find their 1095-A. As an agent delegated to their case, I can download the form and send it to them. But having your own account lets you retrieve it yourself instead of waiting for assistance.

If you have selected paper correspondence, Covered California also sends these documents by mail. If you have chosen paperless delivery, make sure you can sign in and find them.

Make your first payment and check enrollment

Your account is also useful when you first enroll. The enrollment dashboard includes a “Pay Now” button that lets you make your first month’s premium payment, sometimes called the binder payment.

That first payment is crucial to completing enrollment. Do not assume you have a grace period for the initial payment.

You may see an enrollment status of “Pending” while the payment and enrollment are being processed. Once the insurance carrier receives your payment, completes enrollment, and notifies Covered California, the status changes to “Enrolled.”

You can also review which household members are enrolled in which plans. That can be particularly helpful when people in the same household have different coverage.

How to create an account and link your application

If an agent or Covered California representative enrolled you without creating your personal online account, you can link that existing application to a new account. You do not need to start a second application.

An access code is generated during the enrollment process. When I enroll someone who does not have an account, I capture that code and send it to them. Covered California also sends the code in a welcome letter.

With your access code ready, follow these steps:

1. Open your web browser and go to coveredca.com.
2. Select “Sign In” in the upper-right corner.
3. On the login page, select “Create an Account” rather than entering a username and password you do not yet have.
4. If you already have an application, choose “Link Existing Application,” described as “I have an application started and need to link it to my account.”
5. Select “Continue” to reach “Access Current Case.”
6. When asked whether you have an access code to link an existing case to the new account, select “Yes” and enter your code.
7. Follow the prompts to create your username and password and complete the security questions.

Enter the access code exactly as provided. It is case-sensitive, so pay attention to uppercase and lowercase characters.

Your application and your account are different

Your application contains the information used for eligibility and enrollment. Your personal online account is how you sign in to access that information and read secure messages.

An authorized agent or Covered California representative may still be able to assist with your application and retrieve documents. But their access does not replace the convenience of having your own login.

I may be driving and unable to retrieve a document immediately, or Covered California customer service may be closed when you need help. Your own account gives you a way to check information without waiting for either of us.

Do not stop at the notification

If you have selected paperless correspondence, make a habit of opening your account when Covered California sends an alert. The important information is in the secure message or document—not just the notification.

Creating your account is a practical way to stay connected to your coverage, keep track of enrollment, and find tax documents when you need them.

YouTube video of Covered California account creation.

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