Empowering Latinx physicians, medical professionals and medical students through education, advocacy & health policy to support their efforts to eliminate health disparity, promote and optimize health and the quality of life for Latinx in California.
Today is a historic day for our work towards Health4All. Starting today all children in California will have access to care, regardless of where they were born.
All low-income undocumented children under 19 will be able to access full-scope “comprehensive” Medi-Cal. Children will qualify if the family has an income at or less than 266% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Medi-Cal is free for children with a family income at or less than 160% FPL. Medi-Cal is low cost for children with a family income between 160 and 266% FPL, and these families will have to pay a small premium of $13 a month/child with a maximum $39/month. Thanks to full-scope Medi-Cal, undocumented children will be able to receive yearly checkups, doctors’ visits, immunizations, vision, dental and mental health services.
Immigrant families can act now, and enroll their children in full-scope Medi-Cal!
This historic win was due to the courageous effort of immigrant rights and health advocates fighting for #Health4All through the legislative and budget process. On June 24, 2015, Governor Brown signed the 2015- 2016 state budget trailer bill (SB 75), which included an investment of $40M to expand full-scope Medi-Cal to all low-income undocumented children. On October 9, 2015, Governor Brown signedSB 4 (Lara), which strengthens this expansion by ensuring that undocumented children who are enrolled in restricted-scope Medi-Cal can easily and automatically transition to full-scope Medi-Cal beginning today.
Health4All Kids is a historic step in the right direction to covering all Californians. As we implement this great opportunity let’s not lose sight of the work ahead to achieve a true Health for All. We know that when parents are healthy, then children are healthy. One in six of all California children have at least one undocumented parent, with many of them being U.S citizens. We need to make sure that we finish the job and cover all Californians!
That is why we are calling on the Governor and legislators to support SB 10 (Lara) and SB 1418 (Lara) , which would bring much needed relief to undocumented individuals who are uninsured. SB 10 would expand access to health care coverage for all Californians, regardless of immigration status, through the state marketplace. Under SB 10, California would apply for a federal waiver that would allow undocumented immigrants and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients to buy unsubsidized coverage through Covered California, using their own money. SB 1418 would expand full-scope Medi-Cal coverage to all low-income undocumented adults, regardless of immigration status, if funding is made available through the state budget.
These bills will help California families thrive, and provide a powerful model for the nation. California is stronger when all Californians are covered.
Resources
For more information on Health4All Kids, find a local clinic, and resources, go towww.health4allkids.org
Questions?
For more information, contact: Betzabel Estudillo at bestudillo@caimmigrant.org or Ronald Coleman at rcoleman@caimmigrant.org.
