|
Extending Health Coverage to Seniors and Undocumented Immigrants - New Developments in CA Health Policy (Corrected)
CaHPSA E-Newsletter ∙ Volume 2, Issue 11.2 ∙ May 2021
|
|
|
Correction
Dear Readers,
It has come to our attention that our last newsletter (sent on May 31, 2020) contained inaccuracies regarding the scope of Assembly Bill 4 (AB 4) and Senate Bill 56 (SB 56).
Today's updated version includes the corrections. Specifically, AB 4 would extend full-scope benefits to all undocumented adults by 2026. In addition, SB 56 would extend full-scope benefits to undocumented seniors age 65+, beginning January 2022. For more information on these bills, click here and here. For your information, this link has information about Medi-Cal benefits that young people under 26 already get, regardless of immigration status.
We apologize to our readers for the incorrect information in our last newsletter. Thank you to those who reached out to point out the inaccuracies. Providing accurate, credible, and clear health policy information to our future health professionals is our highest priority.
Sincerely,
CaHPSA Newsletter Team
|
|
|
|
Hello health justice advocates,
Firstly, we would like to wish you all a Happy Mother’s Day! In our shared passion for #Health4All, we know that health equity and justice cannot be achieved until we have equal health access for our parents, including parents who are seniors or who are undocumented.
For this reason, this month, we are highlighting new health policy developments, centered around extending health access to our first guardians, our parents.
Up first is Assembly Bill 4 (AB 4). This bill, authored by State Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, will extend full-scope Medi-Cal benefits to all undocumented adults, who are already income-eligible for Medi-Cal, regardless of immigration status. This bill was introduced in December 2020, and will now advance to a third reading and vote after being passed by the Assembly's Health Committee on 5/20/21. Click here for more details, and to track this bill's progress through the Assembly. This bill, if passed, will go into effect in 2026.
Similarly, Senate Bill 56, authored by state Senator Maria Elena Durazo, extends full-scope Medi-Cal benefits to undocumented seniors age 65 and older, who are already eligible for limited scope Medi-Cal. Click here to track SB 56 progress through the California State Senate. This bill, if passed, will become effective in 2022!
In other exciting news, Governor Gavin Newsom included funding to extend Medi-Cal coverage to seniors above age 60, regardless of immigration status, in a budget proposal this month. Although this change is slated to go into effect May 2022, if passed in the Legislature, this is a huge development for health equity! It would make California the second state in the U.S. to extend coverage to undocumented seniors, after Illinois. For more information, you can follow this story here.
|
|
|
New Developments this May, 2021
AB 4: Extends full-scope Medi-Cal benefits to all undocumented adults, regardless of immigration status, by 2026.
SB 56: Extends full-scope Medi-Cal benefits to undocumented seniors age 65+, regardless of immigration status, by January 2022.
AB 570: Extends private insurance overseen by CA to qualified dependent parents or stepparents of covered individuals, regardless of age.
May 2022: If passed, California State Budget will include funding to extend Medi-Cal coverage to seniors age 60+, regardless of immigration status.
|
|
|
|
Finally, AB 570 is a groundbreaking new policy in the works. Authored by Assemblymember Miguel Santiago, this bill would allow children who are covered by California-state regulated health plans (including private insurance) to extend coverage to their dependent parents. This is important, especially for continuity of care for an older population with a higher risk and burden of illness. Such a law would also potentially allow vulnerable immigrants, who are still in the 5-year waiting period to become eligible for Medi-Cal or Medicare benefits, an avenue for access to care in the meantime. California is the first state to propose such legislation, and this would be a historic win if passed into law. AB 570 was approved by the California Assembly's Health Committee on May 24th, 2021, and is now pending a vote by the Assembly. Additional information and progress on AB 570 can be found here.
These are just a few of the health policy reforms that are on the horizon in our golden state of California. Much of this important, significant progress has only been possible through healthcare advocates like you, who passionately raise awareness, insist on having their voices heard, and who continue to stand up for our vulnerable community members. For that, we thank you, and we are eager to continue progress and action with you!
Onward,
California Health Professional Student Alliance (CaHPSA)
|
|
|
Events coming up:
Pre-Health Dreamers presents the First Annual Pre-Health Dreamers Conference!
Click on the image above to purchase your tickets!
Conference Facebook Page (Click here)
California Physician's Alliance presents: Celebrating Medicare's 56th Anniversary!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please let us know how we're doing!
If you would like to leave our newsletter team any comments or suggestions about the newsletter, just reply to this email with your response.
We hope to take advantage of this feature to continue to improve our newsletter!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
