The California Department of Finance just dropped a bombshell—the state isn’t spending $6 billion on healthcare for undocumented individuals through Medi-Cal. It’s $9.5 billion. That’s a nearly 60% jump from the figure being reported in the media.
During a budget hearing, officials confirmed that $8.4 billion of that total is coming straight from the state’s general fund. This isn’t federal money. This is California tax revenue being funneled into a system that’s already bleeding cash. The state is staring down a $30 billion deficit, yet somehow, the priority remains covering undocumented individuals at an unprecedented scale.
Even as lawmakers scramble to close the budget gap, there’s little appetite for scaling back these programs. The spending isn’t just for emergency care—it’s for full Medi-Cal coverage, including routine doctor visits, surgeries, and long-term treatment.
Guadalupe Manriquez, the state’s Program Budget Manager, defended the spending, claiming it reflects California’s commitment to healthcare for all. But what happens when the money runs out? The state is already raising taxes, cutting services, and searching for ways to plug the deficit. At some point, even California will have to admit the numbers don’t add up.
INSANE 🚨 California Department of Finance Program Budget Manager says “In the current year to cover UNDOCUMENTED individuals in Medi-Cal, we're spending $9.5 BILLION TOTAL FUNDS”
“It's not the $6 billion that people continue to talk about in the media. It's $9.5 billion” pic.twitter.com/733kVjnLpg
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) March 2, 2025
Sources:
https://www.aol.com/california-spending-9-5b-healthcare-191000744.html