California became the first state to offer health insurance for all undocumented immigrants and rapper 50 Cent is not thrilled about how much it will cost tax payers.
At the beginning of the new year, migrants without proper documentation in California will now be eligible for full health insurance coverage.
The coverage will be offered through Medi-Cal, the state’s version of the federal Medicaid program for low-income people.
The Power star trashed the decision to his more than 30 million Instagram followers on Wednesday.
It's because Gavin is a Communist…
50 Cent Doesn't Understand Why California Is Giving Immigrants Living Illegally Free Health Care https://t.co/olDd6XmlXo
— Krissy_MeowMom (@Krissy_MeowMom) January 3, 2024
The “In Da Club” rapper shared an image of California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, which included a superimposed title reading, “California Becomes First US State to Offer Health Insurance to All Illegal Migrants.”
“I don’t understand this, this it going to cost 2.6 billion dollars for tax payers,” 50 Cent captioned the post.
“They don’t even give veterans health insurance. [MSNBC anchor Ari Melber] call my phone now, help me understand this s**t. WTF.”
The state has gradually been increasing illegal border crosser’s access to health care services since 2014.
While undocumented immigrants had previously been excluded from comprehensive health insurance, they had access to emergency services if they met certain criteria, such as income limits and residency in the state.
A year later, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Democratic successor, former Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill admitting undocumented children into Medi-Cal.
In 2019, California’s current liberal Governor Gavin Newsom, signed a law expanding Medi-Cal coverage to all young adults between the ages of 19 and 25.
The bill was undiscriminating of the California youth’s immigration status.
As was a 2022 law that gave adults 50 and over full-scope Medi-Cal services.
The latest expansion, which went into effect earlier this week, will cover the illegal immigrants who fall into the once neglected age bracket between 26 and 49, which is expected to affect around 700,000 people.
The cost to provide the free health care coverage is projected to be $2.6 billion annually, which will fall to the state’s taxpayers.
“In California, we believe everyone deserves access to quality, affordable health care coverage – regardless of income or immigration status,” Newsom’s office proudly boasted about the program.
“Through this expansion, we’re making sure families and communities across California are healthier, stronger, and able to get the care they need when they need it.”
However, the Golden State is facing a record $68 billion deficit due to a “severe revenue decline.”
The shortfall will likely get worse as Californians have been fleeing the state since 2020.
More than half a million residents left California in a year-and-a- half period between 2020 and 2022, due to strict pandemic restrictions, rising cost of living expenses, and skyrocketing housing prices.
In part due to the deficit, the plan to expand Medi-Cal coverage in California has faced fierce criticism from conservatives.
The California Senate Republican Caucus highlighted concerns about the strain it will put on the state’s decimated coffers last year.
“Medi-Cal is already strained by serving 14.6 million Californians – more than a third of the state’s population,” the caucus penned.
“Adding 764,000 more individuals to the system will certainly exacerbate current provider access problems.”
According to the liberal media it shouldn’t matter, as studies show indicate that illegal migrants strain the healthcare system less than U.S. residents.
ABC News reported that health policy research nonprofit KFF found that around 50% of undocumented immigrant adults in the United States report being uninsured, whereas only 8% of U.S.-born citizens lack health insurance,
The study claimed the disparity is largely due to undocumented adults being more likely to hold jobs that do not provide health benefits and facing eligibility restrictions for federal programs.
They also claim that the illegal immigrants who are eligible are often don’t enroll over “fear” and difficulties with language barriers.