Medi-Cal expansion bill would add coverage for 1 million more people

Program assistant Mayra Dittman (L) helps Juanita Gilbert get up to walk at the Lifelong Medical Marin Adult Day Health Care Center on February 10, 2011 in Novato, California. LifeLong Medical Care in Novato is a state-licensed center that provides adult day health care and activities to nearly 60 Marin County seniors and would be forced to close if California Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed budget cuts were to be approved by the state legislature in order to make up for California's $28 billion deficit. The deep cuts to Medi-Cal would jeopardize up to 300 adult day care centers throughout California and displace nearly 37,000 people that depend on the service.

Medi-Cal, California's version of Medicaid, already provides help to nearly 8 million residents. This week, the State Assembly is considering a bill which could add more than a million new people to Medi-Cal's rosters.

Medi-Cal, California's version of Medicaid, already provides help to nearly 8 million residents. This week, the State Assembly is considering a bill which could add more than a million new people to Medi-Cal's rosters. In particular, this would include people at 158 percent of the poverty line, or $15,415 a year.

Despite uncertainty about the costs of expansion, a recent report from the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office says the benefits of this plan far outweigh the costs.

For more, we're joined by Shana Alex Lavarreda, Director of Health Insurance Studies at UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.