Two California Democrats have introduced a bill to restore full Medi-Cal coverage for illegal immigrants age 19 and older.
In June 2025, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state Legislature paused new illegal immigrant enrollments in full-scope Medi-Cal coverage amid backlash over taxpayer costs. The freeze took effect in January, shifting those already enrolled to limited-scope coverage, emergency and pregnancy care only, funded by federal dollars, while barring new applicants over 19 from full benefits, including prescription drugs and routine doctor visits.
Now, Democratic state Sen. MarÃa Elena Durazo and Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula have introduced Senate Bill 1422, the Medi-Cal Access Restoration Act, which would lift the pause. The bill intends to make individuals 19 or older without satisfactory immigration status “eligible for the full scope of Medi-Cal benefits subject to certain limitations, such as the payment of premiums and certain dental benefits.”
“This bill would instead make an individual who is 19 years of age or older, who does not have satisfactory immigration status, eligible for the full scope of Medi-Cal benefits subject to certain limitations, such as the payment of premiums and certain dental benefits,” SB 1422 states. “Because counties are required to make Medi-Cal eligibility determinations and this bill would alter Medi-Cal eligibility, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.”
California became the first state to expand Medicaid to all illegal immigrants in 2024. With an estimated 700,000 undocumented residents in the state, the expansion came amid a projected $68 billion budget deficit, according to the Budget Committee.
By March 2025, the California Department of Finance estimated the state would spend over $8.4 billion on Medi-Cal health benefits for illegal immigrants that fiscal year, more than $5 billion above initial projections.
Facing mounting public pressure over the costs, Newsom proposed freezing new enrollments for those over 19 in May 2025. At that point, an estimated 1.6 million illegal immigrants had already signed up and would not be affected by the pause, according to CalMatters.
Durazo defended the new bill, arguing that “denying them basic health coverage isn’t saving money, it’s borrowing trouble. We pay more when people end up in the emergency room.”
However, even with the pause on new enrollments, California faced a deficit exceeding $10 billion in 2025. Projections now show a nearly $3 billion shortfall for 2026, KTLA reported.
In addition to Durazo’s argument for SB 1422, supporters noted that the enrollment freeze does not eliminate health needs, but simply shifts costs to counties, hospitals and emergency rooms.
Officials have also pointed out that undocumented immigrants in the state contribute an estimated $48.5 billion annually in state and local taxes, representing roughly one-tenth of California’s workforce, according to KTLA.
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