Blue States Have Second Thoughts About Giving Healthcare To Illegals

A trio of blue states that expanded taxpayer-funded healthcare to illegal migrants in recent years are now scaling back or freezing coverage as costs soar far higher than anticipated.

California, Illinois and Minnesota — all under the direction of Democrat governors — expanded state healthcare coverage to individuals living unlawfully in the country. However, in the wake of massive budget deficits and higher-than-expected enrollment, all three states have been forced to consider how to rein in coverage for their illegal migrant population.

“In what other country can you just show up, and have the expectation, and get full services from government programs?” California GOP Rep. James Gallagher, who serves as the State Assembly minority leader, told the 🏢Daily Caller News Foundation when discussing the budgetary mess his state is currently dealing with. “I’m not aware of any other country that would allow you to do that.”

California burned through $8.5 billion on immigrant health care in 2024 and coverage is expected to cost more than $12 billion in the upcoming year, according to CalMatters.

“It’s just crazy,” Gallagher said. “It’s not sustainable, and that’s why our budget is completely blown.”

Then-California Gov. Jerry Brown expanded Medi-Cal eligibility to illegal migrant minors in 2016. Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Democrats then expanded enrollment to young adults in 2020 and seniors in 2022, before making all low-income illegal migrants eligible for the program by January 2024.