More Californians now eligible for Medi-Cal benefits regardless of immigration status

CALIFORNIA, USA — Health care is becoming more accessible to those who need it most.

A California law went into effect on May 1, giving full scope Medi-Cal to adults ages 50 or older, regardless of their immigration status. Mar Velez, a state policy senior manager for the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (LCHC), described the moment as a “huge victory for our immigrant community,” especially as need has been critical during the pandemic.

“It really was a clear example of how important it is for all of us to have access to healthcare coverage,” Velez said.

However, she said the need among undocumented immigrants was always present, including for some Latino families who are part of mixed status, multi-generational households. In many of these cases, Velez said people who have permanent residency or who are U.S. citizens could still be living with family members who are undocumented, which could lead to challenges.