Tags: Gavin Newsom, California budget crisis, Medi-Cal, undocumented immigrants, Medicaid expansion, health care cuts, universal health care, Trump Medicaid policy
Budget Shortfall Forces Newsom to Reevaluate Health Care Promises
California Governor Gavin Newsom is under pressure to reassess the state’s Medi-Cal expansion to undocumented immigrants, a signature policy that aimed to deliver universal health care. Skyrocketing costs and a growing budget deficit have put the program at risk.
Soaring Costs Spark Funding Concerns
Newsom’s administration revealed that Medi-Cal costs surged to $9.5 billion annually — far beyond the $6.4 billion forecast just months earlier. The expansion now covers 1.6 million immigrants without legal status, including adults ages 26 to 49, who became eligible in 2024. The state recently borrowed $3.4 billion to cover costs.
Political Risks and Policy Tensions
The governor faces a tough choice: maintain health coverage for undocumented immigrants or find alternative budget cuts. Polls show lukewarm public support for taxpayer-funded care for immigrants without legal status. With a possible 2028 presidential bid in sight, Newsom’s decision could impact his political future.
Possible Cutbacks on the Table
While Newsom’s May budget revision is not expected to make immediate cuts, lawmakers are considering freezing new enrollment, adding co-pays, or reducing benefits. Republican critics say the spending is unsustainable, while Democratic leaders warn that rollbacks would harm vulnerable communities.
Health Experts Warn of Long-Term Costs
Health policy advocates argue that eliminating coverage could backfire, leading to higher emergency care costs and burdening hospitals. “Leaving them uninsured drives up costs for everyone,” said Anthony Wright of Families USA.
Newsom has hinted that any future decisions will depend on federal actions, particularly threats by Trump and Republicans to slash Medicaid funding for states covering undocumented immigrants.
Despite good intentions, California’s universal health care dream is now tangled in fiscal and political realities.
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