Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Media Contacts: Rachel Linn Gish, Health Access California Communications Director, rlinngish@health-access.org
Ed Sifuentes, CIPC Communications Director, esifuentes@caimmigrant.org
SACRAMENTO – The #Health4All coalition rallied yesterday at the State Capitol for a more inclusive, universal health care system for ALL Californians, regardless of immigration status. While historic gains have been made in removing barriers in Medi-Cal for those that are income-eligible, about 520,000 undocumented Californians remain barred from purchasing care through Covered California due to their immigration and income status.
The event featured speakers Sen. Maria Elena Durazo (Senate District 26); Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula (Assembly District 31); Carlos Alarcón, Policy Analyst, California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC); Ana Lie Álvarez, Organizer, Health Access California; Ronald E. Coleman Baeza, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN); Luz Gallegos, TODEC; and an impacted community member.
After the rally, members of the coalition spoke at the Assembly Budget Subcommittee Hearing in support of removing exclusions in Covered California based on immigration status and the small investment needed to start up a mirror-type exchange within the program.
A livestream of the the event can be found here.