FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2025
Latino Coalition for a Healthy California Launches “Medi-Cal #SalvaVidas” Campaign to Defend Lifesaving Care Amid Threats to Health Coverage
SACRAMENTO, CA — In response to growing threats to Medicaid at the federal level and a harmful, misleading media narrative in California, the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (LCHC) is launching Medi-Cal #SalvaVidas—a proactive social media campaign highlighting the vital importance of Medi-Cal and the urgent need to protect it. At the federal level, efforts to cut Medicaid under the guise of reducing “waste and fraud” continue to resurface, putting the health of low-income and immigrant communities at risk. Separately, at the state level, Medi-Cal faces budget challenges and recent media narratives have singled-out undocumented immigrants as the cause of Medi-Cal’s expenses, while ignoring key drivers such as rising health care costs.
This campaign aims to set the record straight. The Medi-Cal #SalvaVidas campaign centers the voices of those who rely on this life-saving program—and calls on all Californians to stand up for the care our communities deserve.
Medi-Cal serves 40% of the California population, that is over 15 million Californians – half of which are Latino. California led the nation with our Health4All campaign, and today, we proudly hold nearly full coverage at 94%. LCHC, our partners, and the State have worked tirelessly to help families navigate enrollment barriers in culturally and linguistically competent ways. The. #SalvaVidas campaign raises awareness to protect Medi-Cal, advancing equitable health coverage, and improving community health outcomes. California has taken the rightful steps to ensure a Healthy California for All – we can’t let these current threats take that vision for health justice away from our communities.
“Health is a sound economic investment. The economic Theory of Human Capital tells us that when a population is healthy, they are stronger contributors to the economy. It is the health of Californians, showing up to work, and investing in their communities that make our economy the 5th largest in the world. If we want to continue leading economically, we must protect the health of all Californians,” said Dr. Seciah Aquino, Executive Director at LCHC. In a year, when we must face tough budget decisions, this Medi-Cal investment to protect 40% of Californians will help us build back stronger post-COVID-19 and the climate change crises, which have exacerbated health disparities across the state.
For over a decade, LCHC has advocated for the expansion of Medi-Cal coverage to all Californians, regardless of immigration status. In 2023, we launched the LCHC Medi-Cal Hub—a centralized resource hub designed to provide timely and accurate information about Medi-Cal expansions, coverage, and redetermination efforts communicated in a culturally and linguistically accessible way for Latine communities. This campaign is an intentional step to protect our valuable state achievements in Medi-Cal.
“Salvavidas” means “lifesaver” in Spanish—and that’s precisely what Medi-Cal is for the millions of Californians who rely on it,” said Robert Nuñez, Sr. Communications Director at LCHC. “ #SalvaVidas is a bilingual, public education and policy advocacy campaign that will spotlight who Medi-Cal serves, how it is funded, and why it is indispensable for health equity.”
LCHC is calling on allies, legislators, and everyday Californians to join the fight using hashtags: #SalvaVidas, #NoCutsNoRollbacks, #Health4All, and #KeepPeopleCovered.
For more information about the Medi-Cal #SalvaVidas campaign, visit: Bit.ly/LCHCMediCalHub.
For media inquiries, contact: Robert Nuñez, rnunez@lchc.org, (805) 815-7730
