"California Extends Medi-Cal to All Undocumented Residents Amid Fiscal Challenges"
California is set to provide free healthcare to over 700,000 illegal immigrants despite facing a record $68 billion budget deficit and a shrinking population. The expansion of the Medi-Cal program, which will start on January 1, 2024, is expected to cost $2.6 billion annually. This move comes as California experiences a mass exodus of residents and businesses, with the state's population declining for the first time ever in 2020. Governor Gavin Newsom and Health Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly have praised the initiative as a step towards a more equitable healthcare system that could serve as a national model.
