Sen. Lara pushes for accessibility of Covered California for undocumented immigrants

A legislation that allows undocumented immigrants in California to have access to healthcare coverage has been introduced. If passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor, California would be the first state in the United States to to allow illegal immigrants to purchase health insurance thru the state version of Obamacare.

Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) authored a bill (SB10) that permits undocumented immigrants to have access to Covered California which is part of Obamacare program.

Senator Lara said, it is not fair to not letting undocumented immigrants to have access to Covered California. Meanwhile, Senator Lara has passed a legislation that expands eligibility of the Medi-cal to undocumented teens.

Based on the legislation that Senator Lara passed, undocumented teens are now able to benefit from California healthcare insurance.

The purpose of Senator Lara’s current legislation (SB10) is to enlarge the eligibility of Covered California to undocumented adult immigrants as well.

There is a heated debate regarding Senator Lara’s legislation with pros and cons groups making spirited exchanges. Among the immigrant communities, people support the expansion of healthcare insurance but conservative groups claim that undocumented immigrants should not get benefits from health insurance.

The director, Robin Hvidston of the Claremont based group, ‘We the People Rising’ opposes the legislation by pointing out that the legislation would make it unlawful to violate immigrant laws if undocumented immigrants are granted access to health insurance.

<Joo Yeon Park — The Korea Times Staff Reporter>