UC Davis Health Topping-Out Signals Major Bed Expansion as Covered California Closes 2026 Enrollment

ByBrian “Weence” Bateman

Sacramento, CA – March 14, 2026 – UC Davis Health marked a key hospital expansion milestone as Covered California reported nearly 206,000 regional enrollees for 2026.

UC Davis Health has reached a visible construction milestone in its long-term hospital replacement project, while Covered California reports how many Sacramento-area residents secured marketplace coverage for 2026 amid changing subsidy rules.

UC Davis Health marks construction milestone

The 14-story California Tower at the UC Davis Medical Center campus has officially topped out, meaning the building’s structural frame is complete. The project, located near 45th and X streets, is part of a multi-year rebuild of the Sacramento hospital campus.

UC Davis Health has described the tower and adjoining pavilion as a major expansion of clinical space, including new operating rooms, imaging areas and expanded services such as pharmacy and burn care. Plans call for the addition of roughly 334 inpatient beds when the project opens, which is expected in 2030.

While the milestone does not immediately change patient services, it represents progress toward increasing inpatient capacity in the Sacramento medical district as demand for hospital and specialty care grows.

Covered California reports regional enrollment totals

Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace headquartered in Sacramento, announced that 1,927,371 Californians selected or renewed coverage during the 2026 open-enrollment period.

Of those, 205,610 enrollees were in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley region, according to the agency’s regional breakdown. Statewide, about 235,055 people made new plan selections and nearly 1.7 million renewed existing coverage.

The marketplace said enrollment patterns shifted as enhanced federal premium tax credits expired. Covered California also reported that state-funded subsidies helped some lower-income households maintain coverage in 2026, even as new sign-ups declined compared with the prior year.

What Residents Should Know

The UC Davis hospital expansion is a long-term project, with patient services in the new tower expected later in the decade. Residents who rely on Covered California coverage for 2026 may want to review plan details, including premiums, provider networks and cost-sharing, especially in light of subsidy changes.

Outside of open enrollment, most residents must experience a qualifying life event to change or start marketplace coverage, according to Covered California rules.

If you have urgent symptoms, seek medical care. For general questions, talk with a licensed clinician.

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Brian “Weence” Bateman is a health and medical writer who covers public health updates, healthcare policy, and medical developments affecting communities across the United States. He works closely with dentists and healthcare providers and focuses on making complex medical information clear, accurate, and useful for everyday readers.