Statement of Commissioner Lara on expansion of health coverage for undocumented adults
News: 2021 Press Release
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara released the following statement after Governor Gavin Newsom signed budget trailer bill AB 133 into law, expanding Medi-Cal coverage to include all adults age 50 and older, regardless of their immigration status. As a member of the California Senate, Commissioner Lara authored Health4All Kids covering all children up to age 18, and introduced the first bills to cover all older adults.
“Dreams do come true when we never give up on them. California’s immigrants have given so much to our state, and now they will have the dignity of health care as they age. Governor Newsom has erased a vestige of discrimination against our immigrant communities that so many of us have fought for years to overcome. I have championed the rights of immigrants to affordable health coverage during my service in the Legislature and now as Insurance Commissioner. I am grateful to all those in the Legislature, Administration, and community advocates who never gave up on our fight to win health care for all older Californians."
# # #
Led by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, the California Department of Insurance is the consumer protection agency for the nation's largest insurance marketplace and safeguards all of the state’s consumers by fairly regulating the insurance industry. Under the Commissioner’s direction, the Department uses its authority to protect Californians from insurance rates that are excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory, oversee insurer solvency to pay claims, set standards for agents and broker licensing, perform market conduct reviews of insurance companies, resolve consumer complaints, and investigate and prosecute insurance fraud. Consumers are urged to call 1-800-927-4357 with any questions or contact us at www.insurance.ca.gov via webform or online chat. Non-media inquiries should be directed to the Consumer Hotline at 800-927-4357. Teletypewriter (TTY), please dial 800-482-4833.
