(Just The News)—California is moving forward with a budget that will provide $12.1 billion for illegal immigrant health care this year. But a new poll from the Public Policy Institute of California found 58% of Californians oppose that allocation.
California first expanded eligibility for Medi-Cal, the state’s taxpayer-funded health care program for low-income households, to illegal immigrants in 2016 for minors. Then the state expanded it in 2020 for those up to 25 years old, in 2020 for those 50 or older and in 2024 for all illegal immigrants. While the federal government reimburses most Medicaid expenditures, it does not reimburse states for illegal immigrant health care beyond pregnancy-related and emergency care.
“In recent months, the state has had to borrow more than $3 billion to cover unexpected increases in Medi-Cal expenses — largely attributed to this expansion. When asked if they favor or oppose providing healthcare coverage for undocumented immigrants in California, 58 percent of adults oppose (41% favor),” wrote PPIC. “In surveys from 2015 to 2023, majorities favored this idea.”
While the budget bill does include Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to pause new illegal immigrant enrollment on Jan. 1, 2026 for Medi-Cal, the bill cuts Newsom’s proposed premiums for illegal immigrants from $100 per month starting on Jan. 1, 2027, to $30 per month.
According to Assemblyman Carl DeMaio, R-San Diego, advancing federal changes – which could reduce some Medicaid reimbursement rates by 10% to states that allow for the enrollment of illegal immigrants – would cost the state $11.2 billion per year. That’s more than twice the governor’s estimate of $4.4 billion per year.
The change would not impact federal funding for illegal immigrants’ pregnancy or emergency care.
“[This budget] will result in a $11.2 billion cut in Medicaid funding from the federal government to the State of California, and that is for citizen services, and you are knowingly doing that, you are recklessly doing that,” said DeMaio in an Assembly floor speech urging legislators to vote against the bill. “And when the cut comes due, when we’re penalized, you’re like the drunk driver blaming the cop who pulled you over and gave you the ticket.”
“Why are you doing it? So you can give $12.1 billion in a gift of public funds to illegal immigrants, prioritizing illegal immigrants over your own citizens,” continued DeMaio.
California leaders have not ruled out new taxes to fund the program, especially as additional federal changes to the state’s managed care organization tax — which taxes Medicaid providers a higher rate, and puts that money back into Medi-Cal to qualify for higher federal reimbursements — could cut into the state’s $7 to $8 billion in annual MCTO tax revenue, and cost the state $2 billion in related federal reimbursements.
“We’re looking at a variety of different things,” said Sen. Lena Gonzalez, chairwoman of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, D-Long Beach, when asked at an earlier press conference about means of funding the state’s health care coverage for illegal immigrants.
“We’re looking at all — across the picture — everything related to our budget,” said Gonzalez, who’s also the Senate majority leader.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.