Well, well, well. If it isn’t California Governor Gavin Newsom wising up and utilizing some more conservative principles to fix his progressive state on the deep decline. Newsom announced Wednesday that he intends to halt the enrollment of additional low-income undocumented immigrants into the state’s publicly funded health care system starting next year.
Under the proposed changes, individuals who are already receiving Medi-Cal — California’s version of Medicaid — would retain their coverage. However, beginning in 2027, the state would impose a $100 monthly premium on adults with what it defines as “unsatisfactory immigrant status.”
National Review reports that this sudden shift comes despite Newsom’s remarks in March, when he stated that cutting back health coverage for undocumented immigrants was not under consideration, even as California faced a $6.2 billion shortfall in Medicaid funding.
In 2023, California became one of the few states to provide free health care access to all low-income adults regardless of immigration status. That initiative, however, ended up costing $2.7 billion more than anticipated, prompting a reevaluation of the program’s financial sustainability.
Newsom, however, staying true to liberal form, had to blame President Trump for his state’s poor standings. Newsom claimed the unexpectedly high costs of the expansion and economic instability stemming from tariffs imposed by President Trump were the culprit. “The state must take difficult but necessary steps to ensure fiscal stability and preserve the long-term viability of Medi-Cal for all Californians,” his office said in a statement.
According to the governor’s office, these new measures are expected to save California approximately $5.4 billion by the 2028-2029 fiscal year.
National Review notes that Newsom is tempering some of his longstanding progressive positions. Earlier in the week, he urged municipalities across California to enact bans on homeless encampments in public areas such as sidewalks, bike paths, and parks. He also provided local governments with a model ordinance to assist them in implementing these prohibitions and dismantling existing camps.
