Californians Newly Eligible for Medi-Cal under Health Care Reform

This policy brief finds that about 2.13 million nonelderly Californians who were uninsured for all or part of 2009 are newly-eligible for Medi-Cal under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010. Using data from the 2009 California Health Interview Survey, the authors find that this newly-eligible population is often single, working-age and employed and that their rates of most chronic conditions are similar to those currently enrolled in Medi-Cal, but they have less access to care. The characteristics of the population of the newly-eligible for Medi-Cal under ACA are likely to change by 2014 when the major provisions of the law are fully implemented. However, coverage of this newly-eligible low-income population is likely to improve their access to health services.

This policy brief is accompanied by a break-down of key health statistics related to this newly-eligible population.

Publication Authors:

• Nadereh Pourat, PhD
• Ana E. Martinez, MPH
• Gerald F. Kominski, Ph.D.