#news California Democrats are working to ban private health insurance and move to a universal healthcare system that will cover illegal migrants
Lawmakers in the one-party state have reintroduced legislation – Assembly Bill 1900 – authored by progressive Democrat Ash Kalra of San Jose.
Karla was born in Canada to Punjabi parents from India. He immigrated to the United States in 1978.
His bill will create “CalCare,” a single-payer program that would cover all residents – including illegal migrants– while banning providers from having private contracts for covered services.
Critics say this effectively dismantles the private insurance market, handing control of healthcare to the state government who has already failed on things like homelessness, drug addiction, infrastructure, election integrity and balancing the budget.
Details:
CalCare would provide “free” healthcare to every Californian, regardless of income, employment, or immigration status, including free medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs, mental health services, and long-term care.
Virtually all doctors and hospitals in the state are banned from billing eligible people or entering into private agreements for services covered under the program, effectively eliminating private insurance options.
A nine-member CalCare Board would oversee operations, set standards, and control costs, turning hospitals and clinics into extensions of state agencies.
The bill incorporates Medi-Cal’s existing penalties for abuse, but conservatives question whether this will prevent the waste, fraud and mismanagement seen in other California state government programs.
Medi-cal : (California’s Medicaid program)
2026-27 Fiscal Year (Governor’s Proposed Budget):
Has a Total spending $222.4 billion — an increase of about $25.7 billion (13.1%) over 2025-26, marking an all-time high and making up over 40% of the state’s total spending.
