At present, Governor Newsom’s Might Revision of the proposed 2025-26 state funds contains severe, vital and draconian cuts to older adults’ entry to well being and long-term care. The proposed cuts symbolize an enormous step backwards and can solely make it dearer to age in California.
We’re strongly against the Governor’s proposal to strip well being and long-term care, together with IHSS from tens of hundreds of older adults and other people with disabilities on mounted incomes by reinstating the Medi-Cal asset restrict of $2,000. This proposal is punitive and unfairly targets older adults and other people with disabilities on Medi-Cal – no different group on Medi-Cal has an asset restrict.
A $2,000 asset restrict will power older adults and other people with disabilities to dwell in deep poverty as a way to entry important care, and terminate protection for present Medi-Cal members who’ve been capable of accrue minimal assets. Reinstating the asset restrict won’t lead to financial savings the state is in search of, and could have restricted influence on the caseload development. The consequence of bringing again the $2,000 asset restrict additionally disincentives older adults and other people with disabilities to use for Medi-Cal due to burdensome and complicated guidelines.
We’re additionally against the Governor’s proposals to roll again well being care entry for undocumented folks, together with older adults. The proposals to freeze enrollment into Medi-Cal, cost unaffordable premiums, and take away protection for long-term care, IHSS and dental advantages for this inhabitants deprive these Californians of the care they want now and sooner or later.
We acknowledge that the state faces very actual funds shortfalls. Nevertheless, we all know from expertise that any short-term funds aid that will come from weakening the safety-net solely results in deeper and more difficult issues sooner or later. The demographics of California are shifting quickly. By 2030, 1 in 4 Californians can be over the age of 60, and lots of will dwell on low, mounted incomes. We can’t reduce our method out of this demographic problem. To make sure that entry to well being care and different essential providers stay accessible to all of us as we age, we have to concentrate on elevating income not slicing providers.
These insurance policies undermine the Governor’s dedication to creating communities the place older adults and disabled persons are valued and cared for. Justice in Getting old will work with the Legislature and Administration to forestall these dangerous proposals from taking impact.
