On Jan. 1, California will become the first state to offer health insurance to all undocumented adults by expanding access to the state-run insurance plan, Medi-Cal.

About 700,000 adults between ages 26 and 49 will be eligible as of Jan. 1

California will welcome the new year by becoming the first state to offer health insurance for all undocumented immigrants.

Starting Jan. 1, all undocumented immigrants, regardless of age, will qualify for Medi-Cal, California’s version of the federal Medicaid program for people with low incomes.

Previously, undocumented immigrants were not qualified to receive comprehensive health insurance but were allowed to receive emergency and pregnancy-related services under Medi-Cal as long as they met eligibility requirements, including income limits and California residency in 2014.

  • rosymind@leminal.space
    184·
    11 months ago

    This is going to sound insane, but I can’t get rid of Medi-cal. I did need it during covid because my insurance was tied to work and I was living with some elderly folk. I kept it when I moved in with my (then) boyfriend because I was in an area where I struggled to find a job. But then we got married, and I have been on his insurance for more than a year. I’ve called (even spoken to a few people), and I’ve written letters, but they just keep renewing it. Most recently I tried calling again but I gave up after waiting for an hour.

    I couldn’t even use it if it wanted to because my name is different now, but the fact that I can’t communicate with them to let them know that I don’t need it is frustrating

    And that made me wonder. I can’t get through to them to tell them that I don’t need it, right? How the hell does someone who DOES need it get through to get some help?

    • assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world
      51·
      11 months ago

      Someone similar position to you, I needed to use Medicaid during the pandemic. I’ve told them twice, once over the phone, and I still seem to have an active thing.

      The way I look at it though, this hopefully means more people have it than need it, versus the opposite where some can’t get it but need it.

    • escaped_cruzader@lemmy.world
      2·
      11 months ago

      And that made me wonder. I can’t get through to them to tell them that I don’t need it, right? How the hell does someone who DOES need it get through to get some help?

      The answer is always that the money is being funneled to someone who doesn’t care if you need it or not