The governor has signed the new California state budget and, as the CEO of the largest publicly operated health plan in the country, I am pleased that it includes funding to expand Medi-Cal coverage to undocumented immigrants 50 years and older as soon as May 2022. It’s estimated that about 235,000 older undocumented immigrants will become eligible for Medi-Cal due to this new legislation. This builds on last year’s expansion of Medi-Cal coverage to undocumented young adults up to age 26, and moves the state one step closer to achieving universal health care coverage.
I am also pleased that the governor is eliminating the Medi-Cal asset test that will remove the ‘senior savings’ penalty and has included the permanent end of the suspension of Medi-Cal optional benefits. With cost of living continuously rising, removing the asset test will allow seniors to maintain their dignity and financial stability, while gaining access to much needed healthcare. The permanent end to the suspension of optional benefits will give Medi-Cal recipients peace of mind when it comes to benefits like audiology and speech therapy, eyeglasses and contacts, and podiatric services, among others.
While the new policy on Medi-Cal for undocumented immigrants will provide access to health coverage for vulnerable seniors, the Labor Center at UC Berkeley estimates there will still be nearly 1.3 million undocumented immigrants without health coverage in California in 2022. I contend that California will be stronger if everyone has access to health care. Undocumented Californians provide significant economic and cultural contributions to communities across the state and should not be denied basic health care because of where they were born.
We are investing in the health of our state when we invest in health coverage for all residents, regardless of immigration status. This investment is critical in advancing health equity for all California residents. I applaud Governor Newsom and the legislature for taking another step toward universal coverage.