California ranked in the bottom five states on overall growth during open enrollment this year, according to an analysis by Avalere Health, in large part because it trailed only Vermont and Washington state in retaining 2014 enrollees among states that reported full results.

Covered California has enrolled about 18,000 people so far in a special enrollment program for individuals who didn’t understand the tax consequences of not signing up for health insurance in 2015.

The lingering effects of the recession, slow income growth and possibly Obamacare are all contributing to a sharp drop in estimates of how much will be spent on health care through the rest of this decade.

California and insurers in the state owe thousands of dollars in commissions to insurance agents who have helped individuals and families enroll in health coverage during Covered California's open enrollment periods, the CHCF Center for Health Reporting/Sacramento Bee reports.

Last week, Covered California officials proposed a cap on specialty prescription drug costs for consumers who purchase 2016 health plans, Capital Public Radio's "KXJZ News" reports.

In all the turmoil in health care, one surprising truth is emerging: Consumers seem increasingly comfortable trading a greater choice of hospitals or doctors for a health plan that costs significantly less money.