Even for those on welfare in California, health insurance is a top priority. Many choose to buy insurance policies to cover their medical needs, even if being on welfare makes health insurance in California quite expensive. Others receive insurance coverage through their employers, who may be willing to either subsidize the cost of insurance coverage, or have their employees pay for the medical benefits through a payroll deduction scheme.
But a significant portion of Americans below to low-income families and have limited resources, and being on welfare makes health insurance in California something that sadly, may not fit their budget. They may not be able to afford a direct purchase of insurance policies or may not be in a position to receive insurance coverage from their place of employment. It is good that there is a health care program for those on welfare offering health insurance in California and many other states around the United States. This health care program is known as Medicaid.
Those on welfare needing health insurance in California should note that Med-Cal –the local chapter for Medicaid—is not the same as Medicare. Medicare is health insurance program that focuses on the older population, aged 65 and above, providing them with coverage of medical insurance and hospital bills.
Medicaid, on the other hand, is a needs-based program open to anyone who is found eligible. Medicaid gives those on welfare health insurance –in California, the local chapter is known as Med-Cal—by assessing their needs, looking at their income to determine their eligibility for the program. Other factors that are also considered upon looking at the income are age, pregnancy, disability, and old age, among many others. Those on welfare in Los Angeles, California receive health insurance from Med-Cal in the sense that Med-Cal sends benefit payments to the health care providers. Residents of Los Angeles, California –even San Diego or San Francisco—on welfare receive health insurance by presenting their Medi-Cal Benefits Identification Card to health care providers, such as doctors, pharmacies, or hospitals. This allows the health care provider to give you the medical treatment you need covered by Med-Cal.
In 2002, the California Health Care Foundation and the RAND Corporation conducted a study on health insurance for Californians on welfare. It was found that Medi-Cal coverage varies by race, as 33% of Hispanics, 45% of African Americans, 26% of whites, and 48% of other minorities who have been off welfare for 12 or more months have retained Medi-Cal as their primary source of health insurance coverage. This shows that while they have been off welfare for a significant period of time, these former welfare recipients have not been able to receive employer-based insurance plans, hence still depending on the coverage that Medi-Cal provides. The same study says that it aims for policy makers and business leaders to see just how important it is to provide health insurance in California to welfare recipients who are finally off welfare.
People on welfare need health insurance in California –whether San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, or other parts of the state—just as much as anyone. It is important, then, that the state of California offers health insurance to welfare recipients so that they too may receive the necessary medical treatments they require. Everyone has a right to health care, no matter what race or income bracket, so even if they are on welfare, health insurance in California should be readily available to them. It is a good thing that the United States government recognizes that right and has put up programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and the local Med-Cal in California providing health insurance to welfare recipients.