Breaking Barriers: California’s Medi-Cal Expansion to Undocumented Residents

Written by: Cynthia Solorio

On January 1st, 2024, California took a step forward in history as the first state in the US to expand Medi-Cal to all undocumented individuals. This landmark expansion exemplifies California's commitment to fostering a sense of inclusivity and also acknowledges the right to healthcare for all, regardless of immigration status. 

California has long been working towards providing healthcare for all its constituents, with Governor Jerry Brown's initial Medi-Cal expansion in 2016. This allowed individuals under the age of 18, regardless of immigration status, to access Medi-Cal. The current governor, Gavin Newsom, has since expanded Medi-Cal three times. The first expansion in 2016 allowed individuals 19-25 to apply for Medi-Cal. In 2018, individuals over the age of 50 gained access. Currently, we have universal accessibility across the state of California. 

Immigrants across the state who qualify for Medi-Cal now have access to full-scope Medi-Cal, which includes access to primary care physicians, specialists, pharmaceuticals, and more. California has also reassured individuals that their legal status is not shared with immigration authorities and that their enrollment into Medi-Cal will not be considered a public charge. Public charge is often a concern in immigrant's minds when it comes to accessing state or federal aid programs, which is what makes this expansion monumental. Undocumented individuals can access healthcare without risking their safety or having to compromise their health. This is particularly important following the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic when undocumented individuals were disproportionately affected. The undocumented community was at higher risk of becoming infected with the virus and passing away. Fear of deportation, lack of access to healthcare, and finding appropriate spaces to quarantine were issues immigrants faced throughout the pandemic. 

While the expansion of Medi-Cal does not guarantee access to care, it does decrease the out-of-pocket cost for individuals, which would make healthcare more affordable for undocumented individuals. It is projected that the last expansion of Medi-Cal will lead to a 2.9% decrease in undocumented individuals living in poverty. 

California has opened the door for many to access healthcare, but the issue of accessing care promptly remains. Experts estimate that more than 700,000 individuals will gain access to Medi-Cal after the recent expansion, creating concerns about rising wait times to make appointments and access care. In celebrating this great achievement, California must now look towards the future and continue to address challenges undocumented communities face in accessing healthcare, like language and culture barriers. 

In conclusion, California’s expansion of Medi-Cal to all undocumented individuals is a step towards a more humane, compassionate, and inclusive healthcare system. It demonstrates a progressive movement towards bettering the health of Californians, regardless of their immigration status. In our current political climate where universal healthcare is heavily debated, California continues to forge a path alongside the state of Oregon, demonstrating that equitable access to healthcare can be a reality. This expansion addresses a long history of injustices faced

by the undocumented community and sets a foundation for expanding and improving other programs. 

Sources 

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/california-1st-state-offer-health-insurance-undocumented-immigr ants/story?id=105986377#:~:text=In%202015%2C%20undocumented%20children%20were,of %20citizenship%20or%20immigration%20status. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8656825/ 

https://www.ppic.org/publication/the-impact-of-health-insurance-on-poverty-in-california/ 

https://calmatters.org/health/2023/12/undocumented-health-insurance-new-california-laws-2024/ #:~:text=Medi%2DCal%20expansion%20aids%201.8,the%20largest%20number%20of%20enro llees. 

https://latino.ucla.edu/research/lessons-2022-adult-medical-expansion/#:~:text=Implementation %20of%20the%20recently%20approved,nine%20gaining%20health%20care%20coverage. https://apnews.com/article/california-medicaid-expansion-undocumented-immigrants-34d8deb21 86e9195b253f499e81a3d77#:~:text=The%20state%20doesn't%20know,Medicaid%20population %20of%20several%20states.

About the Author

Cynthia is a fourth-year undergraduate student at UC Berkeley majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology with an emphasis in Neurobiology. She has been involved in nonprofit organizations to address the needs of undocumented, underserved populations in the Bay Area. Her current research aims to document the rich history of Latinx-based social movements and their impact on justice for health and accessibility. As a future physician, Cynthia hopes to continue to work on reducing health disparities and addressing the needs of underserved and undocumented communities.