
California Faces $34 Billion Medicaid Shortfall After Expanding Coverage to Undocumented Immigrants
California is grappling with a staggering $34 billion Medicaid shortfall following the state's decision to extend healthcare coverage to undocumented immigrants. Governor Gavin Newsom's administration has been under scrutiny as reports reveal the state's struggle to fund the expanded Medi-Cal program, which now includes healthcare services for over 700,000 undocumented residents.
A recent study highlighted by Fox News indicates that California has been exploiting a Medicaid loophole to allocate millions towards healthcare for illegal immigrants, exacerbating the financial strain on the state's budget. Critics argue that this move, while humanitarian, has led to significant fiscal challenges, prompting debates on the sustainability of such policies.
The shortfall comes at a time when the state is already facing budgetary pressures, with KCRA reporting that the funding for undocumented resident healthcare is a contentious issue among taxpayers. Governor Newsom has yet to outline a clear plan to address the looming financial crisis, which could impact the quality of healthcare services across the state.