A new study finds 93 percent of Californians under the age of 65 will have access to health insurance if Congress approves national health reform. The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research produced the report.
The report finds up to four million Californians would be newly eligible for Medi-Cal or for subsidies to buy private coverage.
UCLA researcher Shana Alex Lavarreda wrote the analysis. She says about 950,000 Californians would be ineligible because their income is above the threshold. Lavarreda said an additional 1.4 million wouldn't be covered because of their immigration status.
"And that does include people who are undocumented," Lavarreda said. "But it also includes people who are legal permanent residents with green cards, who have been here for less than five years."
Lavarreda said these people could benefit if a public insurance option is created. But she says that wouldn't help those who are illegally.
