California Health Insurance Expands to Cover Sex Changes for Immigrants
TL/DR –
California is expanding its Medi-Cal health care system to cover sex change surgeries for state residents, including those without citizenship status. Nearly 700,000 immigrants in the state qualify for these services, costing California taxpayers an estimated $3.1 billion yearly. This development is part of California’s ongoing efforts to provide healthcare to undocumented immigrants, with more than a third of the state’s population enrolled in the Medi-Cal system.
California Expands Healthcare to Cover Sex Change Surgeries
The Golden State is amplifying its extensive health care system this year, allocating more taxpayer dollars to fund sex change surgeries for residents, including non-citizens.
A May 2022 memo reveals that California’s Medi-Cal provides coverage for hormone therapy and procedures aligning gender characteristics with identified gender, including ancillary services like hair removal.
Around 700,000 undocumented immigrants aged between 26 to 49 qualify for these federal health care services, costing California taxpayers around $3.1 billion. This figure equates to approximately $4,058 per year in medical coverage subsidies funded by the state’s general fund for each eligible illegal immigrant.
“Gender affirming care is a covered Medi-Cal benefit when medically necessary,” the memo reads. “Requests for gender affirming care should be from specialists experienced in providing culturally competent care to transgender and gender diverse individuals and should use nationally recognized guidelines.”
CALIFORNIA’S MENTAL HEALTH COURT EXPERIENCES INFLUX OF PETITIONS
The memo defines “medical necessity” as determined by treating licensed mental health professionals and physicians experienced in treating patients with gender incongruence.
Between Dec. 1 to Dec. 31, records show over 302,000 migrants attempted to cross the U.S. southern border, marking the highest monthly total ever. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reports show an increase in the number of undocumented immigrants not in detention, rising from 3.7 million in 2021 to almost 6.2 million in 2023.
“In California, we believe in quality, affordable health care for all, regardless of income or immigration status,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom. “Through this expansion, we aim to ensure healthier, stronger communities across California.”
Newsom announced that California would extend health care coverage to additional illegal immigrants, adding to the existing 1.1 million in the Medi-Cal system. Currently, over a third of California’s 39 million population is enrolled in the Medi-Cal program.
Since 2015, California has been incrementally adding illegal immigrants to the Medi-Cal program. Undocumented children became eligible in 2015, and adults 50 and older were added in 2019.
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