There is no government agency in California called the "ACA office," and no building you can walk into with that name on the door. The Affordable Care Act is a federal law, not an agency with branches. What California does have is a state-run marketplace, Covered California, and a network of free in-person helpers certified by it. The closest thing to a walk-in ACA office is a Covered California Storefront, which the exchange defines as a permanent office location, open to walk-ins, staffed by a certified enroller, with approved Covered California signage on the street. You find the one nearest you with the Enroller Finder Tool at coveredca.com/get-help/find-an-enroller, or by calling (800) 300-1506.
One more thing that trips people up. California does not use HealthCare.gov. If you type that address you will be pointed back to the state. California runs its own exchange, so every subsidized marketplace application in the state goes through Covered California.
Four Kinds of In-Person Help That Actually Exist
These are different organizations with different jobs. Picking the wrong one is the main reason people waste a trip.
| Where you go | What they handle | Cost to you | How to find it |
|---|
| Covered California Storefront | Marketplace plans, premium tax credits, plan comparison, renewals. Walk-ins accepted | Free | Enroller Finder Tool |
| Certified Insurance Agent or Certified Enrollment Counselor (by appointment or at an office) | Same marketplace work, plus Medi-Cal screening on the same application | Free | Enroller Finder Tool |
| County social services or Medi-Cal office | Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs eligibility, renewals, document drop-off | Free | cdss.ca.gov/county-offices |
| Community health center or community clinic | Enrollment help, plus primary care on a sliding fee scale whether or not you are insured | Free help, care priced by income | findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov |
Covered California describes its certified helpers in three categories: Certified Insurance Agents, Certified Application Counselors, and Certified Enrollment Counselors. All three are trained and certified by the exchange, and all three are free to you. Agents are paid a commission by the insurance company, not by you. Enrollment counselors work for community-based organizations, which Covered California also calls Community Partners.
Covered California Storefronts: The Real Walk-In Option
The Storefront Program exists specifically because people want a door to walk through. Covered California's own program rules require a Storefront to:
- Occupy a commercial location that is accessible and visible from the street
- Display approved Covered California branded signage
- Stay open to walk-in traffic for as long as it participates in the program
- Operate during core business hours, generally Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with many extending hours and weekends during open enrollment
- Keep a private area inside where enrollment is actually done
Only Certified Insurance Agents and Certified Enrollment Entities are accepted into the program, and participation is free for them. That means a Storefront is a private office or a nonprofit office that has agreed to Covered California's standards, not a state building. The signage is real, the certification is real, and the help is free.
Covered California does not publish a single static list of Storefront addresses, because the roster changes as agencies join and leave. Any third-party site printing a fixed list of "Covered California offices" is printing a snapshot that may be months stale. Use the locator, which is searchable by ZIP code, days and hours of operation, and languages spoken.
How to Find One Near You
- Go to coveredca.com/get-help/find-an-enroller.
- Enter your address, city, or ZIP code.
- Filter by what you need: help selecting a plan, application assistance, a financial help estimate, or help in your language.
- Check the listed hours and languages before you leave the house. Many enrollers are one-person or small offices.
- Call the number on the listing first and ask whether they take walk-ins that day.
If you would rather have someone call you, Covered California runs Help on Demand at coveredca.com/get-help/help-on-demand. A certified enroller contacts you, free, with a target of 15 minutes during business hours, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Outside those hours the callback depends on enroller availability and may come the next business day. Help on Demand is for new enrollment only. If you are already a member, contact your own enroller or the service center.
County Offices: Where Medi-Cal Is Actually Decided
Many people searching for an ACA office in California are income-eligible for Medi-Cal, not for a subsidized marketplace plan, and Medi-Cal is handled by counties rather than by Covered California.
All 58 California counties take Medi-Cal applications in person, and all 58 run on the same statewide system, so your case is not tied to a particular building. The California Department of Social Services publishes the full county directory, with addresses and phone numbers, at cdss.ca.gov/county-offices. The Department of Health Care Services has a county office finder for Medi-Cal specifically at dhcs.ca.gov/medi-cal/contact/find-a-county-office.
Other ways to reach Medi-Cal:
- Online: BenefitsCal, the statewide portal for Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and CalWORKs
- Through Covered California: one application screens you for both Medi-Cal and marketplace subsidies, so you do not have to guess which one you qualify for
- Phone: the Medi-Cal line at 1-800-541-5555
| Contact | Number | Hours |
|---|
| Covered California Service Center | (800) 300-1506 | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Covered California TTY | (888) 889-4500 | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| DHCS Medi-Cal Helpline | 1-800-541-5555 | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Health Consumer Alliance (free help with coverage problems) | 888-804-3536, TTY 877-735-2929 | Varies by local office |
| Franchise Tax Board (state coverage penalty questions) | (800) 852-5711 | Business hours |
Community Health Centers and Clinics
Federally Qualified Health Centers and community clinics are the quietest and most useful option on this page. They are required to treat patients on a sliding fee scale based on income, including uninsured patients, and most keep enrollment staff on site who will sit with you and finish an application. For someone who needs to see a doctor this month and sort out coverage at the same time, a clinic does both in one visit.
Find one with the federal locator at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov. Search by address, and call ahead to ask for the enrollment or eligibility department.
Income Limits: Which Program You Are Looking For
Open enrollment that starts November 1, 2026 sells 2027 coverage. Premium tax credit eligibility for 2027 is measured against the 2026 federal poverty guidelines, which are $15,960 for one person plus $5,680 for each additional person.
| Household size | 100% FPL (lower edge for tax credits) | 400% FPL (upper edge) |
|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $132,000 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $154,720 |
The enhanced premium tax credits from the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act expired December 31, 2025. The 400% cap is back, so a household above the figure in the right column pays full price for a marketplace plan. Expect to contribute roughly 2.15% to 10.22% of household income toward the benchmark plan for 2027 coverage.
California adds its own help underneath the federal credit. The California Premium Subsidy launched January 1, 2026 for enrollees at or below 165% FPL, and effective 2027 it extends to eligible consumers up to 200% FPL, which is $31,920 for one person and $66,000 for a household of four. You must be eligible for the federal advance premium tax credit and apply on the subsidized application to get it, and you reconcile it with the Franchise Tax Board on your state return.
Below the marketplace floor, Medi-Cal takes over. California expanded Medicaid, so adults qualify on income alone up to 138% FPL, with no asset test.
| Household size | Medi-Cal adults, 138% FPL monthly | Children, 266% FPL monthly | Pregnancy, 322% FPL monthly |
|---|
| 1 | about $1,835 | about $3,538 | about $4,283 |
| 2 | about $2,489 | about $4,797 | about $5,807 |
| 3 | about $3,142 | about $6,056 | about $7,331 |
| 4 | about $3,795 | about $7,315 | about $8,855 |
For a fuller picture of what else California offers, see our California benefits guide.
2027 Dates and Deadlines
| Date | What happens |
|---|
| October 1, 2026 | Renewal period opens. Current members can review 2027 options and use the Shop and Compare tool |
| November 1, 2026 | Open enrollment begins for 2027 coverage |
| December 31, 2026 | Enroll by this date for coverage that starts January 1, 2027 |
| January 31, 2027 | Open enrollment ends. Enroll in January and coverage starts February 1 |
California's window is longer than the federal one. Covered California runs November 1 to January 31, which is three weeks past the HealthCare.gov deadline of January 15. Outside that window you need a qualifying life event, such as losing other coverage, moving, marriage, or a birth, to enroll through a special enrollment period. Medi-Cal has no open enrollment at all. You can apply any day of the year.
What to Bring to an In-Person Appointment
No single list is mandatory, because verification only covers what the state cannot confirm electronically. Bringing extra is cheaper than a second trip.
- Photo ID for the applicant
- Social Security numbers for everyone applying
- Proof of California residency, such as a lease, mortgage statement, or utility bill
- Proof of income: recent pay stubs, a benefit award letter, last year's tax return, or self-employment records
- Immigration documents for anyone applying who is not a U.S. citizen
- Current insurance cards, including Medicare
- Information on any job-based coverage offered to you, including what the employee-only premium would cost
Immigration Status Changes Taking Effect in 2027
This is the single biggest change a California enroller will talk you through this fall, and it is worth knowing before you walk in.
Starting with 2027 coverage, financial help through Covered California is limited to citizens and nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders, including those still in the five-year wait), Cuban and Haitian entrants, and citizens of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau. Refugees, asylees, TPS holders, parolees, and visa holders who qualified for help with 2026 coverage generally no longer qualify for the premium tax credit in 2027. They can still buy a Covered California plan, at full price. Covered California has published a Lawfully Present Immigrant toolkit for its enrollers specifically to handle these conversations, so ask about it.
Two related points:
- DACA recipients cannot buy a plan through Covered California or any marketplace, and cannot get the premium tax credit or cost-sharing reductions, under a federal rule effective August 25, 2025. They can buy directly from an insurance company at full price.
- Medi-Cal for undocumented adults changed on January 1, 2026. New undocumented applicants age 19 and older now get restricted-scope Medi-Cal, which covers emergency and pregnancy-related care, rather than full-scope coverage. Children 18 and younger and pregnant people are not affected.
California also has a state requirement to carry coverage. The penalty is set and collected by the Franchise Tax Board on your state return, not by Covered California. For tax year 2025 the FTB figure was at least $950 for an uninsured household member 18 or older and at least $475 for a member under 18, and the amount is updated each fall. Check ftb.ca.gov or call (800) 852-5711 for the current year.
If Something Goes Wrong
A denial, a surprise premium, or a plan that will not pay for something is not the end of the road, and you do not have to argue it alone.
- Covered California Ombuds Office at coveredca.com/ombuds-office handles complaints and problems with your Covered California case
- Health Consumer Alliance offers free phone and in-person help statewide for Californians struggling to get or keep coverage, resolve plan problems, or deal with medical debt, at 888-804-3536
- Your county social services office handles Medi-Cal denials, renewals, and appeals
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Covered California office I can walk into?
Yes, but not a state government building. Covered California certifies private agents and community organizations as Storefronts, which are permanent offices with Covered California signage that are required to accept walk-ins. Find them with the Enroller Finder Tool at coveredca.com/get-help/find-an-enroller. Covered California itself does not operate public counters.
Does California use HealthCare.gov?
No. California runs its own marketplace, Covered California, so all subsidized individual coverage in the state is bought and renewed there.
Is in-person enrollment help free?
Yes. Help from Certified Insurance Agents, Certified Application Counselors, and Certified Enrollment Counselors is free to the consumer. Agents are compensated by the insurance companies. If anyone asks you for a fee to enroll you in a Covered California plan, that is not how the program works.
What if I qualify for Medi-Cal instead of a marketplace plan?
Your Covered California application screens for both, and if your income is at or below 138% FPL your case is routed to your county for Medi-Cal. You can also apply directly through BenefitsCal or at a county office. Medi-Cal accepts applications year round, with no open enrollment window.
Can I get help in a language other than English?
Yes. The Enroller Finder Tool lets you filter by language, Storefront listings show languages spoken, and the Covered California service center at (800) 300-1506 offers phone support in multiple languages.
When does open enrollment end in California?
January 31, 2027 for 2027 coverage. To have coverage in place on January 1, you need to enroll by December 31, 2026.
Do I need an appointment?
At a Storefront, no. Walk-in availability is a condition of being in the program. With other certified enrollers and at county offices, call first. Hours and appointment policies vary by office.
What does a community health center do that an enroller does not?
A health center can see you as a patient regardless of insurance status, priced on a sliding scale by income, and most also have staff who will complete your coverage application with you. If you need care now and coverage sorted out at the same time, start there.
