California has become the first state to extend health care coverage to some undocumented young adults through its Medicaid program.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday signed SB-104, which extends health care benefits to individuals 19 to 25 years of age, regardless of their immigration status.
The bill was introduced earlier this year and was initially proposed by Newsom as part of a larger health care package. It is expected to cover some 90,000 low-income residents between the ages of 19 and 25 and to cost the state $98 million in its initial year. The coverage would take effect in 2020, according to the legislation.
The federal Medicaid program prohibits payment to a state for medical assistance furnished to an undocumented immigrant who is not lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise permanently residing in the United States under color of law, according to the bill
The first state to do it as a program...maybe. Illegals have been using ERs for their medical care for years. Most of the bills for babies of illegals born here are not paid by the parents either. Taxpayers are paying for a ton of medical for illegals. Anyone that thinks otherwise is totally wrong.
So many maternity bills were going unpaid, most small border hospitals closed years ago or stopped delivering babies. Back then hospitals had to absorb cost, pass on to other patients as much as they could of course. At some point the federal government started helping with at least some of the bills. So yes taxpayers are paying.
The other issue is any time illegals are in detention, whether for asylum process or other reasons their medical bills are of course paid for by taxpayers. Same for those incarcerate in jails and prisons.