Study finds 125,000 immigrant youth with 'Deferred Action' status may be eligible for Medi-Cal

University of California researchers have released two reports that indicate high need and potential for health coverage among undocumented teens and young adults in California. The findings trail a bill recently introduced in the state legislature that calls for health care coverage for all Californians regardless of their immigration status.   Up to 125,000 young immigrants are estimated to be Medi-Cal (the state’s Medicaid program) eligible under state policy, according to a new report, Realizing the Dream for Californians Eligible for DACA: Demographics and Health Coverage, released by the UC Berkeley Labor Center, the UCSF Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies and the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.  DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, provides temporary work authorization and relief from deportation for undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children. In California policy, unlike that of most other states, low-income individuals granted Deferred Action are eligible for Medi-Cal.   "This state policy could significantly improve health coverage rates among these young immigrants, increase access to the care they need, and reduce the burden on safety net providers," says Laurel Lucia, a policy analyst with the UC Berkeley Labor Center. "However, immigrant youth may still face barriers to enrolling because they lack information on the program or fear deportation for themselves or family members."   Out of ...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news