5.3M Californians Drew Government Assistance in 2011, Report Finds
About 5.3 million California residents in 2011 received income-based government assistance -- including health insurance benefits through Medi-Cal -- according to a Census Bureau report, the Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert" reports (Walters, "Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 2/26).
Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program.
National Findings
The report found that about 46 million U.S. residents received income-based government assistance in 2011, 30.4% of whom identified themselves as being disabled (Shah, Wall Street Journal, 2/26).
According to the report, individuals' disabilities included problems with:
- Ambulatory functions;
- Cognitive functions;
- Hearing;
- Independent living;
- Vision; and
- Self-care (Central Valley Business Times, 2/26).
California Findings
The report found that California had the largest number of individuals receiving income-based government assistance of any state.
However, 5.3 million people represent just under 19% of all California adults, which is a percentage point lower than the national rate of means-tested government assistance, according to the report.
In addition, California had one of the lowest rates of individuals receiving government assistance who said they were disabled, at 27.9% ("Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 2/26). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.