The California Latino Legislative Caucus held a press conference slamming Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to pause enrollment of new illegal immigrants in the taxpayer-funded Medi-Cal public healthcare system and charge $100 monthly premiums to illegal immigrants as “redlining” and “discriminatory.”
Republicans said the focus on the governor’s “pause” obscures the fact that his revised May budget proposal would increase Medi-Cal spending on those with “unsatisfactory immigration status” from an estimated $10.8 billion through the end of the current fiscal year, or $6,750 per year per enrolled illegal immigrant, to $12.1 billion the next year, a 27% increase.
“1.3 million Californians stand to get off Medi-Cal should these budget proposals go forward,” said Assemblywoman Mia Bonta, D-Alameda, suggesting an estimated 2.9 million illegal immigrants live in California. “Hundreds of thousands of our neighbors, our community members would be pushed off Medi-Cal because of premiums they exclusively would be required to pay.”
Under the governor’s proposals, illegal immigrants who are 19 or older would not be able to enroll in Medi-Cal beginning on Jan. 1, 2026, while illegal immigrants 19 and older already on Medi-Cal would pay premiums of $100 per month, or $1,200 per year.
Working illegal immigrants in California earn a median wage of $13 per hour — well below the state’s $18 per hour minimum wage — and thus pay up to $1,846 per year in state taxes, assuming all income is property reported and taxed, and all non-rent, post-tax funds are spent at businesses collecting sales tax.
Under these circumstances, an illegal immigrant worker paying an additional $1,200 per year in Medi-Cal premiums would still induce a net liability of $3,704 per year on Medi-Cal, not including any other state taxpayer-funded services.
“One out of four general fund Medi-Cal dollars is being handed to an illegal immigrant this year,” said Assemblyman Carl Demaio, R-San Diego, in an interview with KUSI. “Next year it’s increasing to $12.1 billion — one out of three general fund Medi-Cal dollars will be going to an illegal immigrant.”
“Does that sound like a pause or a cut? Newsom wants you to think he’s cutting back on this very generous, indefensible program for people who are not citizens but he’s doubling or tripling down,” continued DeMaio. “12 billion is the cost of illegal immigrant healthcare. $12 billion is the state’s budget deficit. Imagine that. But it’s all Trump’s fault, right?”
