San Diego health update: insurance enrollment, beach advisories, and Rady staffing rally
San Diego, CA – March 2, 2026 – Covered California says 148,620 San Diegans are enrolled for 2026; beach-water alerts and hospital staffing tensions continue.
Health insurance: Covered California closes 2026 open enrollment
Covered California reported that more than 1.9 million Californians selected or renewed marketplace coverage during the 2026 open-enrollment period, ending with 1,927,371 total plan selections statewide.
For San Diego, Covered California’s regional breakdown listed 148,620 people enrolled. The exchange said renewals reached nearly 1.7 million statewide, while 235,055 people newly selected a plan for 2026.
The update comes as enhanced federal premium tax credits expired. Covered California said California funded additional state subsidies for 2026 for lower-income enrollees, but reported higher cancellation rates among some renewing consumers who lost federal assistance.
Covered California noted that people who missed open enrollment may still be able to enroll through a special enrollment period after qualifying life events, such as losing job-based coverage, getting married, or having a child.
Outbreak watch: beach and bay water-quality status after storms
San Diego County’s beach and bay water-quality website showed multiple advisories and closures in its latest update (posted March 1). The site tracks bacteria-related management actions along the county coastline and bays, with a hotline and location-by-location status listings.
County officials typically urge residents and visitors to check posted signs and current status updates before water contact activities, especially after wet weather, when runoff can affect nearshore water quality.
Hospitals: labor group announces rally tied to staffing concerns
A union representing health care workers said frontline staff from Rady Children’s Hospital plan to rally outside the hospital’s annual charity ball at the Hotel del Coronado on February 28. In a Feb. 27 statement, SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West said workers are calling for hospital leaders to recognize their union effort and address concerns they describe as chronic understaffing, low pay, and high turnover.
The hospital’s response was not included in the union release. Residents following the issue can expect further updates through labor filings and hospital communications.
Sources
https://www.coveredca.com/newsroom/news-releases/2026/02/26/as-enhanced-federal-subsidies-expire-covered-california-ends-open-enrollment-with-state-subsidies-keeping-renewals-steady-for-now-and-new-signups-down/
https://www.sdbeachinfo.com/
https://www.seiu-uhw.org/press/rady-childrens-hospital-workers-to-rally-outside-black-tie-gala-as-executives-ignore-frontline-workers-warnings-about-understaffing-and-patient-care/
If you have urgent symptoms, seek medical care. For general questions, talk with a licensed clinician.
