David Gorn, California Healthline
The Department of Health Care Services released enrollment numbers last week for Medi-Cal-eligible Californians who initially contacted the Covered California health benefit exchange.
The department said 143,608 people will likely receive Medi-Cal coverage as a result of contacting Covered California.
That's about 40 percent of all applications completed through the exchange, said Anthony Cava, a spokesperson for DHCS.
"We are very pleased with this surge of interest and the momentum we are seeing in consumer awareness," Cava said in a written statement.