Policy Brief Policy Brief: The Impact of Health Insurance on Poverty in California By Caroline Danielson, Patricia Malagon, Shannon McConville, Mary Severance Mar 27, 2023 The Affordable Care Act has helped millions of Californians gain health insurance over the past decade. In addition to improving access to care, the ACA has enhanced financial well-being. This work focuses on the significant contribution of publicly funded health coverage—particularly Medi-Cal—to family resources across the state.
blog post Medi-Cal Expansion Has Reduced Financial Barriers to Needed Health Care By Paulette Cha Feb 17, 2022 Since the expansion of Medi-Cal under the federal Affordable Care Act, California families have been less likely to delay necessary care due to cost.
blog post How Might the Supreme Court ACA Case Affect California? By Shannon McConville Nov 10, 2020 The US Supreme Court today heard a case challenging a key provision of the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA). A ruling that invalidates the ACA—or parts of it—could have far-reaching consequences for our state.
Report Assessing Teen Well-Being and Mental Health after the Medi-Cal Expansion By Paulette Cha Jan 27, 2021 Through the Medi-Cal expansion, California invested in adult mental health—but did teens also benefit? This report examines trends in adolescent mental health and maltreatment, and investigates disparities around race and immigration status. These topics weigh heavily as the strain of the pandemic on home life raises concerns over teen well-being.
blog post Medi-Cal Has Expanded Health Coverage in California By Shannon McConville, Shalini Mustala Jan 17, 2024 Over the past ten years, the expansion of Medi-Cal has been a key driver of health coverage gains under the federal Affordable Care Act. Federal policy responses during the COVID-19 public health emergency also boosted Medi-Cal enrollment, though it has declined with the resumption last year of regular eligibility checks.
blog post Health Care Access for California’s Immigrants By Paulette Cha, Mary Severance May 22, 2019 Governor Newsom wants to extend Medi-Cal access to low-income young adults up to age 26 regardless of immigration status, a proposal with strong public support.
Report Health Care for California’s Jail Population By Shannon McConville, Mia Bird Jun 18, 2014 The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has created a new opportunity for California to reach and enroll a medically vulnerable population—the jail population—in health insurance coverage. While inmates receive health care services from county jail systems while incarcerated, few have coverage after they are released from custody. Expansion of the state’s Medicaid program (Medi-Cal) under the ACA has extended insurance eligibility to much of the currently uninsured jail population. As a complement to the ACA, California recently signed into law Assembly Bill 720 (AB 720), which facilitates the use of jails as sites of health insurance enrollment. Increasing enrollment levels for the jail population holds the potential to reduce corrections costs, as well as improve public health and safety.
blog post Video: Health Care Access among California’s Farmworkers By Stephanie Barton Jun 29, 2022 PPIC’s Paulette Cha presents new research on how recent policy changes affected insurance coverage and access to health care for farmworkers, and discusses farmworker health with an expert panel.
blog post Health Care Reform in California: An Update By Laurel Beck Nov 14, 2014 Beginning tomorrow, many Californians will be able to enroll in or switch health insurance plans through the state’s insurance exchange.
blog post Reviving the Health Care Mandate: Who Pays? By Radhika Mehlotra, Shannon McConville Mar 5, 2019 As policymakers in California weigh implementing a state individual mandate, it's worth considering which Californians would bear the burden of the tax penalty and which would benefit.
