Governor Newsom’s 2025-26 revised budget proposal makes a change in his past policy to provide free healthcare coverage to all low-income undocumented immigrants.
The change comes as costs exceed expectations and the state anticipates challenging economic times ahead.
Newsom’s office said the governor’s spending plan, which will be released Wednesday, calls for requiring all undocumented adults to pay $100 monthly premiums to receive Medi-Cal coverage and for blocking all new adult applications to the program as of Jan. 1.
According to the L-A Times, the cost share will reduce the financial burden on the state and could lower the total number of people enrolled in the healthcare program if some immigrants cannot afford the new premiums.
The governor’s office said the changes will save a combined $5.4 billion through 2028-29, but did not detail the cost savings in the upcoming fiscal year that begins July 1. to balloon after more people signed up for coverage than the state anticipated.
(Photo Getty Images)
Photo: Getty Images