On Monday, January 1st, California became the first state to offer health insurance to all undocumented immigrants who reside within the state lines. January first not only marks the first day of the new year but in the world of politics, it marks the beginning of when many new laws are made active.
According to ABC News, close to 700,000 undocumented immigrants have been granted access to health insurance. The new in-state insurance is called Medi-Cal and acts as the state’s very own medical insurance program made to mirror the federal Medicaid program.
Although this program has been around since 2014 it had gone through many reworks and policy expansions before finally being at the status it is now. What first started as a policy made to only give access during medical emergencies, its scope of insurance coverage has increased greatly since its introduction in 2014.
Some of the key takeaways of the Medi-Cal Program Medi-Cal Program:
- Some requirements must be met to be considered a beneficiary like income limits and proof of California residency in 2014.
- A person may qualify for health insurance under Medi-Cal regardless of U.S. citizenship
- An immigrant can still be entitled to emergency and pregnancy-related services even if they are not in a satisfactory immigration status
California has a long history of advocating for the rights of immigrants and with the addition of this policy, the pattern of their advocacy is taking steps into the future.
