CA Governor Indicates Healthcare Coverage for Immigrants Will Continue
California faces a $6.2 billion budget gap in the state's Medicaid services. This is partly caused by the number of immigrant enrollments, which has caused lawmakers to discuss options.
Californian lawmakers agreed in 2022 to provide healthcare access to all low-income adults regardless of their immigration status through the state's Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal, Trân Nguyễn wrote for AP News back in 2023. More than 15 million receive healthcare through the program. The initiative has been costing far more than projected, about $2.7 billion, Nguyễn reported on March 19.
"California's Medi-Cal population in general ballooned during the COVID-19 pandemic when the federal government temporarily suspended income eligibility checks to keep people insured during the national emergency," Cal Matters' reporters Ana B. Ibarra and Kristen Hwang noted. There were also larger enrollment numbers for California's undocumented population, the authors said, as well as seniors.
Nevertheless, Gov. Gavin Newsom indicated that California will not stop providing healthcare to undocumented people, Ashley Zavala with KCRA reported.
"The governor this week requested state lawmakers approve a $2.8 billion loan to help cover the state's soaring Medicaid costs after notifying them last week that he borrowed $3.4 billion because the program was short on funds," Zavala wrote.
