May Revise Impacts Medi-Cal Coverage for Families

The Governor’s 2025 May revision of the state budget proposes freezing new Medi-Cal enrollment for undocumented immigrant adults, and adding $100 Medi-Cal premiums for undocumented adults already enrolled in Medi-Cal. Although on their face these changes focus on adults, they will inevitably impact children as approximately 10% of California children have at least one undocumented parent.

These changes will either prevent parents from receiving health care or create an economic burden and stress in doing so. Either way, caregiver health will be impacted. Data show there is a strong, positive association between parent health and child health. Additional health care costs by way of premiums or unexpected bills because of lack of coverage will exasperate stress families are experiencing and in turn, negatively impact child mental health.

As Jaren Gaither wrote in our recent blog about proposed federal Medicaid work requirements, these plans come at a time when over one-third of California families with infants and toddlers are already reporting stress on how to meet basic needs. Furthermore, immigrant families in particular are feeling fear and stress due to the Trump Administration's aggressive immigration enforcement policies.

Although we do not have local data on the proportion of young children living with undocumented parents across the state, we do have estimates on the percent of children birth to six living with at least one foreign born parent. Statewide, this rate is 40%, including the portion that is undocumented, which is estimated to be 17%.

Estimated percent of children, birth to six living with at least one foreign born parent, by county.

Undocumented Californians are a vital part of our communities and economy, paying nearly $8.5 billion in state and local taxes in 2022. As the Governor and Legislature work to complete the 2025-26 budget, they must consider the wide-reaching, long-term impacts on children of short-term decisions to balance the budget.