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There’s no such thing as a free lunch, but illegal immigrants in California will now eat at the table funded by taxpayers. California has decided to pay for “free” health insurance for its illegal immigrant population. It should be obvious that subsidizing illegal immigration will only encourage more of it. Newsmax’s Jim Thomas reports:
As California grapples with a looming $68 billion deficit in the upcoming fiscal year, the state is set to usher in the new year by extending free healthcare coverage to undocumented immigrants eligible for its government-operated health insurance initiative.
California has consistently broadened access to its Medi-Cal health insurance program for low-income residents. Initially, the program included undocumented children in 2015. Under the administration of Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom, it was later expanded to encompass undocumented adults aged 19 to 25 and those above 50, reported the New York Post.
Effective Jan. 1, California will become the inaugural state to grant free healthcare coverage to all qualifying individuals, irrespective of age or immigration status.
In May, Democrats in the California Legislature marked a budgetary milestone with Newsom and state lawmakers, leading to the latest expansion of Medi-Cal. This expansion is expected to provide complete coverage under the program to approximately 700,000 undocumented immigrants between the ages of 26 and 49.
State Sen. María Elena Durazo, D-Los Angeles, lauded the move, stating, “This historic investment speaks to California’s commitment to healthcare as a human right.”
Assemblyman Miguel Santiago, D-Los Angeles, echoed the sentiment, describing it as a “game changer” and one of the Legislature’s most pivotal pieces.
However, critics, including healthcare experts, express concerns about the wisdom of expansion amid unprecedented state revenue shortfalls and healthcare resource constraints.
Sally Pipes, a healthcare policy expert and CEO of the Pacific Research Institute, a California-based think tank, criticized the move as irresponsible, particularly given existing challenges in finding doctors willing to treat Medi-Cal recipients due to low reimbursement rates.
Read more here.
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