California is doubling down on #Resistance, as lawmakers in Sacramento are once again toying with offering healthcare services to illegal immigrants.
Earlier this year, we recounted that the state’s progressive politicians were pushing a free healthcare program that would include those who are not lawfully in this nation. Now, a measure to offer Medicaid to all illegal immigrants in the state has been introduced in the California State Assembly.
State Assembly member Joaquin Arambula’s bill would make California the first state to give Medicaid coverage to people regardless of immigration status. The state already provides Medicaid coverage to illegal immigrants under the age of 19, the Washington Examiner reports.Arambula’s plan is estimated to cost $3 billion a year and could cover 1.2 million of the state’s 1.8 million uninsured illegal immigrants.
Two state senators are poised to introduce similar measures shortly. Currently, only the children of illegal immigrants can participate in the state’s Medicaid program.
Currently, immigrant children without legal status are eligible for Medi-Cal benefits under the Health for All Kids Act, which was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in 2015. Lara is the author of the legislation, which now covers more than 200,000 children.California is also providing limited Medi-Cal benefits including pregnancy and emergency care to undocumented immigrants 19 years old and above.The California Immigrant Policy Center supports legislation to expand Medi-Cal benefits to undocumented immigrants. Its spokesman, Carolina Gamero said, “It’s something that is urgently needed across immigrant communities in California. The longer that we wait and the longer we keep up this unjust exclusion, it’s really setting back California.”
Part of the rationale for the bill’s timing is that California’s Govenor-elect, Gavin Newsom, is anticipated to continue efforts to evolve the healthcare system in this state into “single payer”.
The legislation is being introduced ahead of a new governor entering office. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom initially had vowed to seek a single-payer healthcare system for the state, but tamped down his rhetoric later in the campaign, focusing instead on extending coverage to the uninsured…….The latest plan would carry an estimated price tag of $3 billion a year, according to California’s Legislative Analyst’s Office, which would be paid for by the state’s general fund. Medicaid is otherwise jointly funded by the state and federal governments.
There is some good news to be had: Illegal immigrants are likelier to flock to the Golden State, providing fiscal relief to the states they abandon.
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