The agreement–part of the state’s $213 billion budget– would enable low-income illegal adults between the ages of 19 and 25 to sign up for California’s Medicaid program, Medi-Cal.
The state legislature must approve the agreement and a vote is scheduled for this week.
The plan is estimated to cost the state $98 million a year and be available to approximately 90,000 illegal immigrants.
In order to pay for the latest entitlement, California plans to start taxing people who don’t have health insurance.
In a stance to distance itself from President Trump’s administration, California is set to become the first state in the country to pay for tens of thousands of illegal immigrants to have full health benefits.
The plan would take effect in January 2020, the Sacramento Bee reported.State officials have estimated the benefits would be available to about 90,000 low-income illegal immigrants at a cost of $98 million per year.
“While it’s not all we sought, it will provide a real tangible difference for people, especially for those around and below poverty and for middle income families who don’t get any help under the federal law,” Anthony Wright, executive director of advocacy group Health Access, said. Indeed, a family of four earning as much as six times the federal poverty level -- or more than $150,000 a year -- would be eligible to get....
