Long Beach health update: hospital recognition, coverage shifts, and measles vigilance
Long Beach, CA – February 28, 2026 – Long Beach Medical Center lands a Newsweek honor, while insurance and measles updates affect residents.
A review of health headlines published in the last 144 hours turned up two strong, Long Beach-specific items, plus one broader regional update that still matters locally.
Hospital: Long Beach Medical Center earns another national ranking
MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center announced it was named to Newsweek’s 2026 list of the World’s Best Hospitals for the eighth consecutive year. The hospital said it ranked among the top 100 hospitals nationwide, placing it among a small group of facilities recognized for performance measures that include quality and patient experience. The recognition, announced Feb. 25, is the latest in a string of national rankings used by hospitals to signal stability and quality as patients weigh where to seek care.
Health insurance: Covered California reports strong renewals as federal help ends
At the state level, Covered California reported that more than 1.9 million people signed up for or renewed marketplace coverage for 2026, with nearly 1.7 million renewals and about 235,000 new plan selections. The marketplace also said new enrollment fell compared with last year as enhanced federal premium tax credits expired, while state subsidies helped keep renewals steadier for many households. Covered California highlighted that state assistance in 2026 supported enrollees with lower monthly premiums and noted income benchmarks tied to affordability efforts.
For Long Beach residents who buy coverage on their own, the takeaway is less about a single number and more about what it signals: premiums and plan choices can shift quickly when federal policy changes, while state subsidies may soften the impact for some people but not all.
Local coverage and access: Health plans back a Long Beach workforce program
Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan and L.A. Care Health Plan announced a collaboration supporting SheWorks California, a workforce development program hosted at a community resource center in Long Beach. The organizations said the program includes job readiness training and wraparound supports such as childcare and transportation stipends, with sessions continuing through May and a workshop scheduled for Feb. 28. While not a hospital headline, the announcement reflects a continuing trend in health coverage: insurers and Medicaid-focused plans increasingly invest in social and economic supports that can influence health outcomes and access to care.
Outbreak watch: LA County confirms another measles case
On the outbreak front, Annenberg Media reported that Los Angeles County confirmed its fourth measles case of the year, with cases linked to international travel. Separately, updated national reporting has pointed to a sharp rise in U.S. measles totals in early 2026. For Long Beach, the practical implication is heightened awareness: measles is highly contagious, and public health agencies typically emphasize vaccination status and early coordination with providers when symptoms or exposure concerns arise.
Sources
https://www.memorialcare.org/press-room/memorialcare-long-beach-medical-center-named-newsweeks-worlds-best-hospitals-list-eighth
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://news.blueshieldca.com/2026/02/26/empowering-black-women-for-career-success
https://www.uscannenbergmedia.com/2026/02/24/fourth-measles-case-confirmed-in-los-angeles-county-this-year/
https://abc7.com/18658146/
