In a significant move, Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed freezing enrollment for low-income immigrants without legal status under Medi-Cal, California's health insurance program, while charging premiums starting in 2026. Existing enrollees will retain coverage, but new applicants aged 19 and older will not be accepted. This decision aims to save the state over $5 billion. Although emergency medical and pregnancy care will still be available for all undocumented residents, some lawmakers express concern about the impact on immigrant health care access, with varied opinions on funding sustainability.
"These are folks who are working, paying taxes. They should have access to health care," Wiener said.
"We committed spending to something we can't afford," Niello said. "It was begun in times when the budget was much more flush and then increased in times when the budget was unreasonably in surplus."
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