A family goes to the Health and Wellness Fair at Fort Miller Middle School in Fresno, getting some useful information. Photo courtesy of Eric Calderon-Phangrath. Children’s health advocates are raising concerns about Governor Gavin Newsom’s plan to freeze the enrollment of public health insurance for undocumented adults. They worry that this decision will jeopardize the health care and overall well-being of these adults’ children.
California has been gradually expanding Medi-Cal, which is the state’s health insurance program for low-income individuals, to include undocumented immigrants. This expansion covered undocumented children in 2016, young adults aged 19-25 in 2019, seniors aged 50 and older in 2022, and adults aged 26-49 in January 2024. Before this expansion, undocumented immigrants only qualified for Medi-Cal in emergencies, during pregnancy, and for long-term care. California has been funding this expansion independently, without any federal assistance.
Now, facing a budget shortfall, Newsom is suggesting a freeze on new enrollments in Medi-Cal for undocumented immigrant adults and proposing a $100 monthly premium for current undocumented enrollees starting in 2027. The Trump administration and Republicans in Congress have been pressuring states like California to stop providing benefits to undocumented immigrants, arguing that tax dollars should not be used for individuals who are in the country illegally. However, Newsom justified his proposed cuts as necessary to balance the budget and emphasized his long-standing commitment to expanding health care to all residents, regardless of immigration status.
Not really sure why this matters, but advocates argue that limiting health insurance for undocumented adults will have a direct impact on their children, many of whom are U.S. citizens. Approximately 1 in 10 California children have at least one parent who is undocumented or has temporary protections from deportation. When parents lose health coverage, their children are less likely to receive the necessary medical care, creating a ripple effect on the entire family’s well-being.
Dolores, a 65-year-old grandmother who enrolled in Medi-Cal under the undocumented immigrants’ expansion, shared her concerns about losing this coverage. She expressed how Medi-Cal has not only helped her but also her children and grandchildren. Dolores, who has lived in the U.S. for over 30 years, suffered a stroke three years ago and credits Medi-Cal for providing her with essential health care. She emphasized the importance of maintaining this coverage for the sake of her family’s overall health and well-being.
Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like cutting Medi-Cal eligibility for undocumented immigrants could lead to increased costs in emergency health care services. Mayra Alvarez from The Children’s Partnership highlighted the unintended consequences of such a move, suggesting that this decision could result in shifting costs elsewhere. She recommended exploring alternative ways to balance the budget, such as closing corporate tax loopholes and reducing spending in areas like the state’s prison budget.
In conclusion, the proposed cuts to Medi-Cal for undocumented adults have raised significant concerns among children’s health advocates. They argue that limiting health insurance coverage for adults could have detrimental effects on children’s access to medical care and overall well-being. It remains to be seen how lawmakers will address these concerns and find a balanced approach to managing the state’s budget without compromising the health of vulnerable populations.
