(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 the National Debt Is the Looming Threat to Your Retirement Plans
The Hidden Crisis No One Is Talking About
Every day, headlines warn about inflation, market volatility, and global instability—but the greatest looming threat to your retirement might be something far more fundamental: America’s skyrocketing national debt.
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With debt growing faster than most Americans can possibly fathom, the government’s borrowing habits have reached historic—and dangerous—levels. To cover spending, Washington is making moves with their budget packages, tariffs, and taxes. Is it enough? No. It’s not even close to what would be necessary to stop out-of-control debt, let alone reverse it.
How Debt Erodes Your Nest Egg
There are only so many levers government and the Federal Reserve can pull to try to protect Americans, assuming that’s even a top priority for them. Unfortunately, pulling one level to relive one pressure invariably adds pressure from another direction. This is why prices keep going up even as inflation reportedly slows.
For retirees and pre-retirees, that’s a perfect storm. The dollars you’ve worked hard to save lose value, and your cost of living increases while your investments lag behind.
If you’re relying solely on paper-based assets—stocks, bonds, or mutual funds—you’re essentially tied to the same system that’s creating the problem. It’s a system that was designed to work well in the 20th century, not in today’s world with people living longer and the dollar rapidly losing value.
This is why the 3-minute report, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now,” is so important.
The Precious Metals Hedge
Thousands of Americans are looking for a tangible, time-tested hedge: physical gold and silver.
Unlike paper assets, precious metals aren’t dependent on government policy or the stock market’s mood swings. They’re real, finite resources that have maintained value for thousands of years through wars, recessions, and inflationary periods.
In fact, during times of high inflation and fiscal instability, gold often performs its best—because it’s seen as a store of value when faith in the dollar weakens. This is why prices have skyrocketed this year and are expected by many economists to continue going up in the future.
Take Control with a Gold IRA
One of the most effective ways to protect your retirement from national debt fallout is through a self-directed Gold IRA. This IRS-approved account lets you hold physical gold and silver within your retirement portfolio, giving you:
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The Next Step: Secure Your Financial Future
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If you’re concerned about what the rising national debt could mean for your future, now is the time to act.
Read this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“ and learn the simple steps you can take to protect your retirement.