California to Provide Access to Free Healthcare For Low-Income Immigrants

Over 700,000 undocumented immigrants in California will be granted access to free healthcare, marking one of the state’s most significant healthcare expansions in the last ten years. 

More About the Initiative:

• It is projected to cost approximately $3.1 billion annually
• It will bring California a step closer to the Democratic objective of achieving universal healthcare for its nearly 39 million residents
• It will hugely benefit immigrants who simply are not eligible for most coverage 

In 2022, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers reached an agreement to extend healthcare access to all low-income adults, irrespective of immigration status, via the state’s Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal. 

While California becomes the most populated state to ensure such coverage, Oregon initiated a similar measure in July.

When Governor Newsom outlined these changes two years ago, he referred to the expansion as a groundbreaking move aimed at fortifying the healthcare system for all Californians. This commitment was made during a period when the state experienced its most substantial budget surplus. However, with the program set to commence next week, California is confronted with an unprecedented $68 billion budget deficit, sparking inquiries and apprehensions regarding the economic implications of this expansive healthcare initiative.

Advocates for immigration and healthcare, who have dedicated over a decade to promoting these changes, argue that broadening coverage will address a gap in healthcare access and result in long-term cost savings for the state. Individuals living in the state without legal status frequently defer or evade seeking care due to their ineligibility for most coverage, leading to higher expenses when they eventually seek treatment.

De Efrain Talamantes, COO at AltaMed, a health center in California, stated, “It’s a win-win, because it allows us to provide comprehensive care and we believe this will help keep our communities healthier.”

The forthcoming expansion will mark California’s most significant healthcare initiative since the introduction of the Affordable Care Act by former President Barack Obama in 2014. The act enabled states to encompass adults falling below 138% of the federal poverty level in their Medicaid plans, leading to a substantial decrease in California’s uninsured rate from around 17% to 7%.

However, a notable segment of the population remained excluded: adults residing in the U.S. without legal consent. Despite many holding jobs and contributing taxes, they remain ineligible for most public benefit programs.

Some states, acknowledging this gap, allocated their tax funds to cover a portion of healthcare expenses for certain low-income immigrants. In California, the extension of healthcare benefits began in 2015 with coverage for low-income children without legal status, later expanding to include young adults and individuals over 50.

The final demographic segment, comprising adults aged 26 to 49, will now be included in the eligibility criteria for California’s Medicaid program.

Although the exact number of individuals expected to enroll through this expansion remains uncertain, state officials anticipate that over 700,000 people will secure comprehensive health coverage, enabling them to receive primary care and other treatments. This significant figure surpasses the entire Medicaid population of multiple states, underscoring the substantial impact of the expansion.