​The Affordable Care Act has dramatically reduced the number of uninsured Americans but has excluded unauthorized immigrants, including those who make up seven percent of California's residents. Fourteen California communities in the "Building Healthy Communities" program supported by The California Endowment have a significant undocumented population. The report's authors suggest that the state's decision makers should put in place policies and programs, such as allowing undocumented immigrants to buy health insurance on a market similar to the state health exchange, that would lead to a healthier state for all Californians.

The report is a collaboration between UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, San Diego State University, and USC Dornsife Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration and was funded by The California Endowment.