California is the first state that will be providing low-income immigrants with free health care. This will provide additional insurance coverage for 764,000 more people living in the United States without permanent status. Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new bill that permits for low-income individuals to be eligible for this program despite their legal status. This change is monumental as it is allowing low-income adults and children to gain access to free health care, an issue that has been affecting numerous people, financially and physically.
Immigrants living in the United States illegally do not qualify for public benefit programs and are not eligible to receive health care despite them being active members of this country, paying taxes, and working hard. However, slowly but surely, states are providing illegal immigrants with the ability to access health care and other government benefits. Eighteen states provide prenatal care to individuals regardless of their legal status. Five states and the District of Columbia are also now covering all kids from low-income families despite their statuses too. It is clear that there is a substantial change taking place in the United States in improving immigrants’ access to medical care. The California Immigrant Policy Center is taking charge and working with other administrations to speed up the process and pass this bill along with many others to assist these immigrants.
