California Governor Proposes Health Care Coverage for Young Undocumented Adults

Immediately after taking office, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced proposals Monday for the state to expand Medi-Cal to cover young undocumented adults, a move which is slated to cost the state $250 million a year, The Los Angeles Times reports. Newsom’s proposal would reportedly raise the coverage cut-off age for undocumented young adults from 19 to 26, and would be the first state to do so. “Every person should have access to quality, affordable healthcare,” Newsom said in his inaugural address. “Far-away judges and politicians may try to turn back our progress. But we will never waver in our pursuit of guaranteed health care for all Californians.” According to the newspaper, Newsom’s proposal would also create an individual mandate that would impose financial penalties against those who are uninsured.