The effort to expand access to affordable health coverage for California’s immigrant population is in full gear this week as Senator Ricardo Lara has been traveling the state to promote SB 4, which takes a strong step toward covering all Californians by expanding access to Medi-Cal to all children regardless of immigration status. The bill also allows undocumented immigrants to purchase coverage through Covered California, which they are currently prohibited from doing.
Senator Lara’s Health for All Statewide Community Tour kicked off in Oakland last night along with Assemblymember Rob Bonta at Asian Health Services. Senator Lara will be traveling throughout the summer legislative break to rally support for his proposal and to build awareness about the expanded coverage options for undocumented children, which will begin in April 2016. SB 4 will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations committee when the legislature reconvenes in August.
Community and organizational support at last night’s press conference and community meeting demonstrated the imperative of covering the state’s immigrant population.
Assemblymember Bonta discussed his family’s recent immigration history as one of the main reasons why he’s working on SB 4.
Excited to attend the #Health4All Tour to talk about the importance of #SB4 pic.twitter.com/wz0h17yMwA
— CPEHN (@CPEHN) July 22, 2015
Asm Bonta shares his family history of being an immigrant from the Philippines. We are all in this together!
— CPEHN (@CPEHN) July 22, 2015
Assemblymember Bonta then welcomed Senator Lara to the microphone where he explained why SB 4 is necessary and how community organizations will be key to ensuring the success of efforts to cover California’s immigrant children in Medi-Cal.
With the stroke of a pen, #Health4All kids became a reality in #CA, the state with largest immigrant population! pic.twitter.com/BDp5RRETzl
— Ricardo Lara (@ICRicardoLara) July 22, 2015
He also pointed to the fact that undocumented immigrants cannot purchase insurance through Covered California with their own money and how SB 4 aims to change that.
Not letting immigrants buy care is discriminatory federal policy that doesn't reflect #CA values #Health4All #bayarea pic.twitter.com/iVaOIZHMzi
— Ricardo Lara (@ICRicardoLara) July 22, 2015
The event also featured young advocates from local schools in the East Bay, an intern at Asian Health Services, and a senior patient who is uninsured and seeking services at AHS who all shared their personal stories and how SB 4 and the greater Health for All movement will impact their lives, as well as their families and their communities.
#Oakland HS student David: "#Health4All is impacts me at a personal level. Important to use #SB4 as stepping stone" pic.twitter.com/mGE7QWQsbs
— Ricardo Lara (@ICRicardoLara) July 22, 2015
Student: Health policies that don't improve health = deteriorating health. While we celebrate this victory we can't get complacent.
— CPEHN (@CPEHN) July 22, 2015
So inspired by the youth speakers at today's statewide tour at Asian Health Services! Thank you for sharing your stories!
— CPEHN (@CPEHN) July 22, 2015
Health for All efforts gained more momentum earlier this week when the Los Angeles News Group’s nine Southern California publications endorsed SB 4. The Los Angeles Daily News even ran an op-ed titled “Health Care for Undocumented Immigrant Children: The Right Thing to Do.”
Senator Lara’s community tour continued today in San Jose and Fresno and concludes tomorrow in Los Angeles. The legislature will consider SB 4 in August. You can follow along here on our blog as we continue our work in support of this important legislation and all other Health for All efforts in the future.