California A Step Closer To Extending Health Care For Illegal Immigrant Children
SACRAMENTO (AP)-- The California Senate has approved legislation that would make the state the first in the nation to extend health coverage to children who are in the country illegally.
Senators approved a bill Tuesday that would allow children under 19 from low-income families to qualify for state-funded Medi-Cal, regardless of their legal status.
It also would seek federal authorization to sell unsubsidized private health insurance to those in the country illegally through the state's health exchange.
Sen. Ricardo Lara, a Democrat from Bell Gardens, hailed his bill as a historic move to expand access to health care.
Some Republicans warned that it won't help immigrants access doctors because of the shortage of providers who accept Medi-Cal.
SB4 advanced to the Assembly on a bipartisan vote, 28-11.
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