California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) has put forth a proposal to halt new enrollments of undocumented immigrants in a state-funded healthcare program as a strategy to address a $12 billion deficit.
What Happened: Newsom unveiled his nearly $322 billion state spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year on Wednesday. The plan outlines steps to address unexpectedly high Medicaid spending and a volatile economic environment, factoring in federal tariff policies and an unstable stock market, reported Fortune.
The proposed freeze would prevent low-income adults without legal status from applying for Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, beginning in 2026. However, those already enrolled will remain covered and the changes will not affect children. From 2027, adults with “unsatisfactory immigration status” on Medi-Cal will be required to pay a $100 monthly premium, aligning with the average cost of subsidized health plans in California’s marketplace.
Newsom criticized President Donald Trump‘s economic policies, suggesting they could decrease state revenues by $16 billion in the future. He stated, …