On the second night of the first round of Democratic presidential debates, all 10 candidates said they would support providing health insurance to undocumented migrants living in the U.S. Now, California is the first state to actually take steps to do just that.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law this week that will offer taxpayer-supported healthcare to low-income, undocumented adults between the ages of 19 and 25.
This bill will extend coverage to around 90,000 adults whose income is low enough to be eligible to access the state’s Medicaid program. With coverage expected to take effect starting next year, the rule is estimated to cost taxpayers approximately $98 million. It will be funded by restoring a state version of the individual mandate, which was eliminated nationally with the passage of the Republican tax bill in 2017.
