Under current Congressional Republican proposals, major cuts could be looming for Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) and ACA exchanges like Covered California. New factsheets detail statewide impacts of cuts to Medi-Cal and Covered California, and chart the number of people in each of California’s 53 congressional districts that could be affected by these cuts. CA health […] The post Ahead of Inauguration Day, Health Advocates Release New Factsheets on What’s at Risk for Medi-Cal & Covered California appeared first on Health Access.
- Under current Congressional Republican proposals, major cuts could be looming for Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) and ACA exchanges like Covered California.
- New factsheets detail statewide impacts of cuts to Medi-Cal and Covered California, and chart the number of people in each of California’s 53 congressional districts that could be affected by these cuts.
- CA health advocates are urging members of congress to vote against any bill that cuts Medi-Cal, which 15 million Californians rely on, and continue the health care premium subsidies that are helping nearly 2 million Californians afford coverage.
SACRAMENTO, CA – The incoming Trump Administration and Republican control of Congress could have major implications for Californians’ health care. Ahead of Inauguration Day, Health Access California, the statewide health care consumer advocacy coalition, is releasing two new factsheets detailing what is at risk for our health under potential federal health care proposals.
Speaker Johnson has laid out an aggressive timetable to enact sweeping budget changes through a process called “reconciliation.” The proposed plan would make steep cuts to health programs like Medicaid and ACA premium subsidy programs to pay for tax cuts for billionaires and corporations. Health Access details this process and what’s at stake specifically for Medi-Cal and Covered California. Toplines include:
- Medi-Cal provides quality, comprehensive health coverage to 15 million low-income California children, working families, adults without children at home, seniors, and people with disabilities.
- Federal funding accounts for $98 billion of the total $161 billion in Medi-Cal spending.
- Covered California provides health insurance for another 1.8 million Californians who make too much for Medi-Cal and do not get health insurance from their employer.
- 90% of Covered California enrollees receive federal premium tax subsidies to help pay for their coverage.
- If Republicans include Medi-Cal cuts in the reconciliation package, we could see annual cuts of a third or even half of federal funding to Medi-Cal, depending on the proposal. This would leave a massive hole in the California budget and result in devastating cuts not only for health care but other parts of the state budget as well.
Because of these major impacts, Health Access is also providing a chart of the number of people enrolled in these programs (also including Medicare) in each of California’s 53 congressional districts.
“If Congress passes some of these draconian cuts, tens of thousands of constituents in every CA congressional district would either see their health costs spike or lose coverage all together,” said Amanda McAllister-Wallner, interim executive director of Health Access California. “These are not just numbers, these are real people’s lives, and the impact would be felt by almost everyone. At a time when millions of Californians are struggling with the costs of housing, food, and now devastating wildfires, we want each member of congress to ask themselves – do you want to be the one who raises costs even higher for families in your district?”
Health Access California is leading efforts in the state to push back against any federal cuts to our care. Together with labor and community groups, recent rallies have been held to stop Medicaid cuts in front of the offices of Representatives Valadao, Kim, and Calvert. Next week Health Access will join other health advocates in meeting with CA congressional offices directly on Capitol Hill. Additional actions are being planned in the coming weeks and months.
Factsheets:
- Federal Reconciliation: What’s at Risk for Medi-Cal & Covered CA
- Federal Impacts: What’s at Risk for CA’s Statewide Safety Net (data by congressional district)
The post Ahead of Inauguration Day, Health Advocates Release New Factsheets on What’s at Risk for Medi-Cal & Covered California appeared first on Health Access.
