California's Medi-Cal program serves nearly 15 million individuals with low incomes and disabilities, expanding eligibility beyond federal requirements. The program is crucial for residents' health care, but political tensions arise over proposed budget cuts from Republicans and rising costs attributed to fraud. Governor Newsom's administration has had to borrow billions to manage funding overruns, yet Medi-Cal remains vital, with a record low uninsured rate reported. The future of the program is uncertain as state and federal funding debates continue, impacting millions of Californians.
More than a third of Californians depend on Medi-Cal or the closely related Children's Health Insurance Program to see a doctor, therapist, or dentist.
Democrats say the biggest threat to Medi-Cal is $880 billion in GOP budget cuts being mulled in Washington, D.C.
In March, Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration borrowed $3.4 billion to cover an unexpected overrun in Medi-Cal, and lawmakers in April appropriated an additional $2.8 billion for the rest of the fiscal year.
The state also provides a broad range of benefits, such as vision, dental, and maternity care - some of which is largely paid for by federal dollars.
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