A measure allowing health care to undocumented immigrants cleared the California Senate Tuesday, potentially making it the first U.S. state to enact such legislation.
Lawmakers voted 28-11 in favor of the proposal, which gives up to 240,000 undocumented individuals younger than 19 access to Medi-Cal.
"Today's vote is a transformational and decisive step forward on the path to achieving health for all," Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), author of Senate Bill 4, said in a press release. "Over the past year I've worked to draft a bill that is realistic, balanced and fiscally prudent, while arriving at our goal of expanding access to health care for some of our most vulnerable communities."
Unlike U.S. citizens, undocumented individuals would not be granted subsidies, or any forms of financial aid. Low-income adult immigrants would then pay for a separate insurance program, if they can attain a federally mandated waiver. High-income individuals would be able to purchase non-subsidized coverage through Coverage California if they receive government permission to do so.
Sen. Andy Vidak (R-Hanford) was one of few GOP lawmakers to approve legislation, saying "the taxpayers are already paying high healthcare costs for the undocumented when they show up in our emergency rooms." Conversely, Sen. Jeff Stone (R-Murrieta) said emergency rooms are already understaffed and couldn't handle an influx of Medi-Cal patients.
Because the Affordable Care Act specifically bars immigrants from applying, the only way they could receive health care is through a measure like SB4.
An estimated 41 percent of undocumented immigrants remained uninsured in California once ACA took effect five years ago, compared to 25 percent across the country, according to a study conducted by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. In comparison, New York - home to the third largest number of uninsured undocumented immigrants - only housed 16 percent.
While the California Assembly is all but certain to pass the bill, Gov. Jerry Brown may not be as supportive. Lara's estimate of between $400 million to $800 million annually to expand Medi-Cal for undocumented immigrants has prompted the governor to sidestep the subject.
When asked about SB4 last April, Brown said he didn't answer questions about bills that hadn't reached his desk, adding that they often "exceed the available money."
The Assembly must vote on SB4 before it can reach Brown. They expect to make a decision before the state's legislative session ends in August.
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