California governor signs illegal immigrant health care bill into law

By Jason Hopkins

California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom officially made his state the first in the U.S. to offer government health care benefits to adult-aged illegal immigrants.

Newsome signed SB-104 into law Tuesday, cementing it into the state’s 2020 budget.

The legislation extends taxpayer-funded health care to low-income adults aged 19 to 25, regardless if they are living in the country illegally or not. Officials expect the plan will cover about 90,000 people and cost $98 million in its initial year to implement, The Associated Press reported.

The new law will not cover all 19 to 25 year olds, but those with low enough income to qualify for the state’s Medicaid program. California already provides government health care to undocumented children 18 and younger.

“Young people feel the crunch of the cost crisis acutely — from high rents and student debt. Health care shouldn’t be one more worry,” Newsom said when the plan was being debated earlier in the year. “We are helping young adults when they come off their parents’ plan and assisting those who may not be able to join onto a parents’ insurance policy.”

In order to keep the program financially afloat, California will implement a state version of the individual mandate once included in Obamacare. Residents in the state who do not have health care will be penalized with a tax.

The new law is actually a frugal version compared to what more left-leaning Democrats in the California legislature originally wanted. One bill introduced in the state Senate not only called for 19- to 25-year olds to have government subsidized health care, but to also include those 65 years and older. Another bill in the state Assembly went even further, calling for all adults 19 and over to be included.

Gavin ultimately settled on the current plan with Democrats, who enjoy supermajority control in the state legislature, leaving GOP lawmakers mostly out of the negotiating process. Nevertheless, the governor pledged to keep expanding the program to more people — undocumented or not — in the years to come.

“Mark my words,” Newsom said to a crowd on supporters on June 1. “We’re going to make progress next year and the year after on that. That’s what universal health care means. Everybody, not just some folks.”

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Image courtesy of U.S. Navy/Public domain

4 thoughts on “California governor signs illegal immigrant health care bill into law

  1. They should sink the State of California or separate it out from the rest of the U.S.
    They expect the rest of the U.S. to pay for all their fires, mudslides, home losses of floods for living too close to the ocean and free healthcare,housing,money for illegals. You wonder why this nation is in so much debt.
    The State of California is a big reason and Vermont is following in their footsteps. There are many,many legal residents that can’t get the services that illegals get but that’s all right for the liberal politicians.
    It’s unbelievable the way that these people think. They are living in a fog.

    I really believe that there is going to be another revolution in this Country for people are really getting fed up with this stupid thinking.

    • Raoul P,

      Don’t worry the latest earthquakes are Gods way of telling these Liberal Idiots, you
      messing with my world…………………….

  2. If the early price g is estimated at $98 million, you can rest assured that final number will turn out to be a whole lot higher. If California has fiscal problems now, folks hang on to your hat! As noted above, NO bail outs!!!

  3. Grabsome Nooseum sounds like he’s doubling down on stupid for Obola care commie style. Taxing the taxpayer’s who choose no worthless gov health care
    to pay for non taxpayers free health care… Isn’t that what people hated about
    obola care to begin with.

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