Monterey, CA Medi-Cal Expansion Plan Fizzles In State Assembly

by Richard Kuehn on 08/28/12

 View From A Non-Profit Serving Carmel, Carmel Valley, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Salinas, Seaside And Soledad California

Governor Jerry Brown is trying to gauge the financial impact President Barack Obama's health care reform (the Affordable Care Act) will have on the State of California and he's told legislative leaders he intends to call a special session to deal with the issue later in the year.  Better to get ahead of the ball.   The new rules will vastly expand the number of people on Medi-Cal, which helps our state's poorest with medical costs.  The state of California is hoping to be set to expand coverage to millions in the state which don't have insurance by January of 2014.  Health care proposals have failed to pass in the current legislative session which ends on August 31, so Brown wants to go back to the table in December.  A proposal died in the Assembly which would have created health plans for people who couldn't afford to buy health insurance on the open market but make too much money to qualify for Medi-Cal.  Known as the Basic Health Plan, it would have provided coverage for those with incomes of between 133% and 200% of federal poverty levels, or $15,000 to $21,800 per year.  Anyone living on the Monterey Peninsula knows that's not much money, and it's hard to get by at these levels of pay.  The state must act soon to comply with Federal law.

Please note that this blog reflects my personal opinion and may or may not reflect the opinion of HandsTo Help Seniors and the individual members comprising the Board of Governors.