,California lawmakers say if you’re an adult here illegally, need to see a doctor, and don’t have any money, no problem.
Two bills, one in the state senate and one in the assembly, that aim to provide health care benefits to illegal immigrants, were passed by lawmakers this week. Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, says it’s going to cost the state billions.
“This is going to attract people to California who are in the country illegally. It’s going to attract people who are in other parts of the United States and from abroad. There’s no doubt that policies like this that offer free health care essentially to people in the country illegally or people who want to come illegally cause people to head to those areas. Who wouldn’t? It’s definitely like a putting out a vacancy sign almost.”
Plans would be administered through Medi-Cal and supporters say they will request federal funding, but use state surplus funds if necessary. Medi-Cal is partially administered and funded by the federal Medicaid program.
The state’s legislative analyst’s office estimates the total net cost to the state to be around $3 billion in the 2018-19 budget year.
Vaughan was a guest on McIntyre in the Morning.
Sharon Reardon, KABC News
