As of yesterday, about 170,000 undocumented children in California are eligible for full scope Medi-Cal insurance. It’s part of the “Health4AllKids” program, extending coverage to children in low-income families who qualify. Managing editor Tami Roleff has more…
Health4AllKids, the expansion of Medi-Cal for low-income, undocumented children in California, includes full medical, dental, and mental health services. State budget estimates for the expansion are $20 million this year, and $143 million next year.
Mike Odeh, with the group Children Now, says it’s a smart move to invest in more comprehensive and preventive care, rather than let health conditions worsen until kids are forced to seek treatment in the emergency room.
“Everyone in our community needs access to health care services, especially kids, if we want a healthy, productive future of our state.”
Advocates are now pushing to extend coverage to all adults, regardless of immigration status. Opponents say programs like Health4AllKids only encourage more undocumented people to come to California. But Odeh points out that Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Washington state and Washington, D.C., all have made similar moves – without that issue.
“I don’t buy into that notion. Other states have expanded coverage of Medicaid to undocumented kids and I don’t think we’ve seen this happening.”
Some undocumented families who are eligible for coverage may be afraid of giving personal information to the state. But Odeh says the health applications won’t be shared with immigration enforcement and won’t affect anyone’s future application for citizenship.
MEDI-CAL INSURANCE NOW AVAILABLE FOR UNDOCUMENTED CHILDREN
