In light of the Trump administration’s recent decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program impacting 800,000 individuals – including thousands who reside in California and rely on Medi-Cal for health care coverage – I strongly urge Congress to pass legislation that will allow these young men and women to remain in the only country they call home.
While this is a very difficult time, it is important for DACA recipients, or Dreamers, who receive health coverage through L.A. Care, to know that their Medi-Cal coverage will not be affected at this time. Their health benefits remain in place, and they should continue to seek care through their doctors, clinics and specialists.
As the CEO of a health plan that serves one of the most diverse regions in the nation, I am troubled by the administration’s actions to jeopardize the livelihood of hard-working people who come from all corners of the world. At L.A. Care, we believe that our family, friends and neighbors – regardless of documentation status – deserve the opportunity to thrive and lead healthy lives. In fact, we recently partnered with immigration advocacy organizations, including the Central American Resources Center (CARECEN) and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), to support “Know your Rights” workshops, town halls and public education campaigns, as well as initiatives that assist immigrants in achieving citizenship status and connect them to a range of health services. It is our hope that these efforts will help lessen the negative mental, physical and social effects resulting from the current political climate.
L.A. Care stands with Dreamers and will engage at the federal, state and local levels to provide support for the DACA program.
John Baackes