A new study by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research in Los Angeles and the UC Berkeley (Calif.) Center for Labor Research and Education found two-thirds of Californians who didn’t have health insurance in 2014 were actually eligible for coverage, but many did not enroll because of the high cost, as reported by Medical Xpress.
Here are five points:
1. Researchers found the other one-third of uninsured Californians were ineligible for coverage under the ACA due to their immigration status.
2. Using data from the California Health Interview Survey, researchers reported California residents without health insurance fell into four groups:
- Undocumented residents: 32 percent
- Those eligible for Medi-Cal: 28 percent
- Those eligible to buy coverage on the state health exchange, Covered California, with a federal subsidy to help offset costs: 31 percent
- Those eligible to buy health coverage on Covered California, but not eligible for federal subsidy: 9 percent
- 3. Among reasons for not having insurance, the largest percentage of citizens and lawfully present immigrants, 46 percent, said cost was the main reason.
4. California had more than 1 million undocumented, uninsured residents who do not benefit from the ACA because of their immigration status.
5. The study was funded by Blue Shield of California Foundation.