California must expand Medi-Cal

San Francisco Chronicle

The Legislature is in a special session on health care to consider legislation that's designed to help California prepare for full implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act. Most Americans will have to buy health insurance in January 2014, or pay a penalty for not doing so. There are exceptions to this rule, of course, and one of the most important things that the Legislature is working on is the question of how to help the lowest income Californians get coverage. Assembly Speaker John Pérez, D-Los Angeles, has introduced AB1X1, which would greatly expand Medi-Cal, the state's health insurance program for the poor.

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