Did you know that California’s will soon extend health care coverage to undocumented young adults? That’s right. Thanks to lots of hard work by health care advocates, young adults in California will soon be able to get FREE or low-cost medical care.
When Governor Gavin Newsom signed his first state budget last month, it included funding to expand access to the Medi-Cal program that provides FREE health services to low-income individuals in California. This means all young adults to up to age 26, who meet other Medi-Cal income requirements will be able to enroll in Medi-Cal and receive health care through the state program regardless of their immigration status. To be income eligible, you must make less than $17,236 —but that number changes if you want to count the incomes of other people in your family. Find out if you’re income eligible for Medi-Cal here!
Registration for this expanded group (ages 19 to 26) will begin in January, 2020! TeenSource will keep you updated on how you, a friend or family member, can sign up for Medi-Cal.
Until then, HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!
Here are a few sample tweets and Instagram posts you can use…
Tweets:
California is extending health insurance to young people up to age 26, no matter your immigration status! #KnowYourRights #Health4All https://www.teensource.org/hookup/ca-just-approved-expanding-health-insurance
Proud Californian letting you know that CA is extending Medi-Cal to all income-eligible young ppl—no matter your immigration status! #KnowYourRights #Health4All https://www.teensource.org/hookup/ca-just-approved-expanding-health-insurance
Did you know if you’re young + undocumented in CA, you’ll soon be able to access FREE health insurance?? #KnowYourRights #Health4All https://www.teensource.org/hookup/ca-just-approved-expanding-health-insurance
Instagram Posts:
[[{"fid":"600","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"image of statue of liberty with text health care is a human right, regardless of immigration status","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"healthcarehumanright"},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"image of statue of liberty with text health care is a human right, regardless of immigration status","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"healthcarehumanright"}},"attributes":{"alt":"image of statue of liberty with text health care is a human right, regardless of immigration status","title":"healthcarehumanright","height":220,"width":220,"class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]]
[[{"fid":"601","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"California is extending health insurance to young people up to age 26, no matter your immigration status.","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"MediCalExtensionIG"},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"2":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"California is extending health insurance to young people up to age 26, no matter your immigration status.","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"MediCalExtensionIG"}},"attributes":{"alt":"California is extending health insurance to young people up to age 26, no matter your immigration status.","title":"MediCalExtensionIG","height":220,"width":220,"class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"2"}}]]
Caption: Spread the good news! Undocumented young adults in CA will soon be able to get FREE health care (hands clapping emoji) Visit @teensourceorg for more info #Health4All
...and one for your story!
[[{"fid":"603","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"California is extending health insurance to young people up to age 26, no matter your immigration status.","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"MediCalExtensionIGstory2"},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"4":{"format":"media_original","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"California is extending health insurance to young people up to age 26, no matter your immigration status.","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"MediCalExtensionIGstory2"},"5":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"California is extending health insurance to young people up to age 26, no matter your immigration status.","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"MediCalExtensionIGstory2"}},"attributes":{"alt":"California is extending health insurance to young people up to age 26, no matter your immigration status.","title":"MediCalExtensionIGstory2","height":220,"width":124,"class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"5"}}]]
Don’t forget to tag us so we can retweet you or share your post to our IG story!
More About Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal is a program offered in California that provides FREE health services to low-income individuals. Medi-Cal offers many benefits, including sexual and reproductive health, hospitalization, maternity services, and emergency care. As of January 2018, about one-third of California’s population was enrolled.
While adults still need to meet certain immigration and income requirements to be eligible for Medi-Cal, currently there is no immigration requirement for children or young adults under the age of 19. This means if you are undocumented and don’t have DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – aka Dreamers) status, you can stay on Medi-Cal until your 19th birthday. After that, you can only use Medi-Cal for hospital emergency care or pregnancy-related services and only if you meet the income requirements. If you have DACA status, you may be able to stay on Medi-Cal longer, depending on you or your family’s income.
REMEMBER: Thanks to the new Medi-Cal expansion in California, beginning in January of 2020, that age limit will be extended to age 26!
Click here to learn more and enroll in Medi-Cal.
Free Sexual + Reproductive Services
If you don’t qualify for Medi-Cal, consider signing up for Family PACT!
California's family planning program, Family PACT helps teens access free sexual and reproductive health services like pregnancy tests, prescription birth control, STD testing and treatment, and counseling (but it does not pay for abortions, prenatal or maternity care.) Family PACT is open to low-income Californians, REGARDLESS of your age or immigration status.
The services provided under FamilyPACT are confidential. You can sign up for FamilyPACT at a clinic near you. To find a provider call 800-952-1054 or go to www.familypact.org
Stay Updated + Promote #Health4All
- Visit Health Accessfor updates on health care in CA
- Keep track of other #Health4All bills
- Check out this page for ways to get involved and speak out!
- Use #Health4All on social media to show your support!
- Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter at @teensource Instagram @TeenSourceOrg for updates.
Get Involved with TeenSource
Want to blog for TeenSource? Click here to find out how CA teens can help educate their peers about sex + reproductive health.