California will provide 700,000 undocumented immigrants with public health insurance called Medi-Cal, Democratic state officials announced.
The move completes the state's coverage of illegal immigrants, which previously only targeted those under 25 and those over 50.
Coverage has been updated to include undocumented immigrants ages 26 to 49, bringing the total to 700,000 more people under the state's plan to insure “low-income illegal aliens.”
The California Health and Human Services Agency announced it would provide $835.6 million in funding between 2023 and 2024, followed by $2.6 billion annually for the plan to take effect on January 1, 2024. forbes report.
It is unclear how illegal immigrants will be able to declare their legal income, but while immigration status is no longer a factor, income limits based on household size will be a barrier.
“All individuals, regardless of immigration status, who meet all other Medi-Cal eligibility criteria will be eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal,” the plan announced in 2016. August 2023I explained.
A press release from Democratic State Sen. Maria Elena Durazo said, “California will be the first state to eliminate immigration status barriers to health care, allowing all low-income undocumented immigrants, regardless of age, “They will be able to take out supplementary insurance,” he said. May 2023.
“This historic investment speaks to California's commitment to health care as a human right,” she continued.
Other state officials said it is imperative that California provide medical care to federal offenders.
“This budget investment reflects California's values of inclusion and equity and serves as a model for other regions across the country,” said Sara Darr, director of health and public benefits policy at the California Immigration Policy Center. We should,” he said.
At the same time, Democratic Rep. Miguel Santiago of Los Angeles said it was a “historic mistake” for undocumented immigrants to not have health insurance. He also called the plan “one of the most important pieces of legislation.”
The health plan mentions multiple times that the state does not consider an applicant's illegal immigrant status and that their application to the program will not have any repercussions.
“Using Medi-Cal benefits … does not jeopardize an individual's immigration status,” the document states. It also asks undocumented immigrants to call if they are “unable to obtain proof” of their citizenship or immigration status.
“Unlike before, immigration status does not matter,” the plan added.
medicine The state's website states, It is described as a “medical insurance program”. These include tuberculosis, breast cancer, and HIV/AIDS. ”
Medi-Cal is “funded equally by state and federal governments.”
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