California is already providing Medi-Cal coverage for undocumented children under the program “Health4AllKids.” More than 250,000 undocumented children are benefiting from it.
Key details of the legislation
Currently, almost three million Californians don’t have health insurance coverage despite the implementation of Affordable Care Act (ACA). Around 58% of the estimated uninsured Californians are adult undocumented immigrants.
Under AB 4, an individual who does not have satisfactory immigration status or unable to establish an immigration status… shall be eligible for the full scope of Medi-Cal benefits, if they are otherwise eligible for benefits…”
If signed into law, Californians of all ages will be eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal benefits regardless of their immigration status. The bill would also “delete provisions delaying eligibility and enrollment.”
Additionally, “The bill would condition the implementation of its provisions on an appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or other measure for that purpose.”
