by Zefferin LLamas

In January of this year, Governor Newsom introduced a plan to allow all California residents (documented or not) of all ages to access full coverage MediCAL services (if they qualify; eligibility is based on income). This was approved by the legislature earlier this month, and will go into effect no later than January 1, 2024, making California the first state in the U.S. to provide universal access health coverage, emphasizing the State’s commitment to healthcare as a human right. 

As of May, 2022, all California residents over the age of 50 who qualify for MediCAL can access their services, whether or not they are documented. This is a big step forward both for California and the US in terms of advancing health equity and immigrant rights.