AB-4
Health & Public Health

Covered California expansion.

Introduced
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Expands Covered California to provide health insurance coverage to residents regardless of immigration status by 2027.
  • Establishes a new Covered California for All Fund to finance the program through user fees and state appropriations.
  • Requires health insurers to offer identical plans to all enrollees regardless of immigration status.
  • Launches enrollment on October 1, 2028 with mandatory outreach and marketing to ensure participation.

Summary

Assembly Member Arambula's proposal to expand Covered California would establish a pathway for California residents to access health insurance coverage regardless of immigration status, replacing the current requirement for federal waivers with a state-administered program. The initiative would take effect no earlier than January 2027, contingent upon legislative appropriation, with enrollment opening October 2028.

The legislation requires Covered California to develop and implement a program offering health coverage options substantially similar to those available to other state residents. Health insurers participating in Covered California's individual market would need to extend identical qualified health plans to newly eligible enrollees. The Exchange would establish annual program designs through board resolutions, incorporating input from stakeholders and the public.

To support implementation, the bill creates the Covered California for All Fund within the state's General Fund to receive and manage user fees and appropriations. The Exchange must conduct targeted outreach and marketing while protecting applicant privacy - collecting only information necessary for eligibility verification and program operations. Regular progress reports to the Department of Finance and Legislature would be required each May from 2027 through 2029.

The measure responds to data showing undocumented Californians contribute approximately $3.7 billion annually in state and local taxes while facing barriers to subsidized health coverage. The bill's authors frame the expansion as addressing historical disparities in healthcare access among immigrants and communities of color.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Health Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Health Hearing
Assembly Health Hearing
Read first time. To print.
Assembly Floor
Read first time. To print.
Read first time. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 15 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 3
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
AB-4
Covered California: expansion.
December 2022
Failed
Showing 1 of 1 items
Page 1 of 1

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Joaquin Arambula
Joaquin ArambulaD
California State Assembly Member
10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (12/2/2024)

Latest Voting History

April 1, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Health Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
112215PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Expands Covered California to provide health insurance coverage to residents regardless of immigration status by 2027.
  • Establishes a new Covered California for All Fund to finance the program through user fees and state appropriations.
  • Requires health insurers to offer identical plans to all enrollees regardless of immigration status.
  • Launches enrollment on October 1, 2028 with mandatory outreach and marketing to ensure participation.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Joaquin Arambula
Joaquin ArambulaD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Assembly Member Arambula's proposal to expand Covered California would establish a pathway for California residents to access health insurance coverage regardless of immigration status, replacing the current requirement for federal waivers with a state-administered program. The initiative would take effect no earlier than January 2027, contingent upon legislative appropriation, with enrollment opening October 2028.

The legislation requires Covered California to develop and implement a program offering health coverage options substantially similar to those available to other state residents. Health insurers participating in Covered California's individual market would need to extend identical qualified health plans to newly eligible enrollees. The Exchange would establish annual program designs through board resolutions, incorporating input from stakeholders and the public.

To support implementation, the bill creates the Covered California for All Fund within the state's General Fund to receive and manage user fees and appropriations. The Exchange must conduct targeted outreach and marketing while protecting applicant privacy - collecting only information necessary for eligibility verification and program operations. Regular progress reports to the Department of Finance and Legislature would be required each May from 2027 through 2029.

The measure responds to data showing undocumented Californians contribute approximately $3.7 billion annually in state and local taxes while facing barriers to subsidized health coverage. The bill's authors frame the expansion as addressing historical disparities in healthcare access among immigrants and communities of color.

10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (12/2/2024)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Health Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Health Hearing
Assembly Health Hearing
Read first time. To print.
Assembly Floor
Read first time. To print.
Read first time. To print.

Latest Voting History

April 1, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Health Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
112215PASS

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 15 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 3
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
AB-4
Covered California: expansion.
December 2022
Failed
Showing 1 of 1 items
Page 1 of 1