California Governor Signs Law Providing Health Care for Immigrant Children

California Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 4, the Health for All Kids Act, by state Senator Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens that will provide health coverage to all undocumented immigrant children in the state. California will become the state with the largest immigrant population to provide health care coverage to low-income undocumented children.

About 17,000 children will be eligible for coverage under the state’s Medicaid program, which gives a $40 million allocation and $132 million each subsequent year, while starting in May 1, 2016. The law was supported by all Democrats and some Republicans in the legislature.

"When I began the effort to expand health care coverage to undocumented Californians, many people said it couldn't get done," Lara said. "Just a year later, we are covering all undocumented children, becoming the largest state to do so."

“SB4 is a down payment on achieving true health for all. The second measure in the legislative package, SB 10, will be considered in the next legislative session. It will include coverage for adults through a capped enrollment program, and a federal waiver will be requested so immigrants can buy coverage through Covered California, the state's health insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act,” said Lara.

Source-Medindia