Most California Voters Support Extending Medi-Cal to Undocumented

Support for expanding Medi-Cal coverage to all undocumented immigrants is increasing among California voters, according to a new Field Poll sponsored by the California Wellness Foundation, the Sacramento Bee reports.

Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program.

The poll found that 58% of respondents said they favor extending Medi-Cal coverage to all undocumented immigrants in the state, while 39% oppose the idea. In comparison, 51% of voters last year favored the idea and 45% opposed it.

About 63% of respondents this year said Medi-Cal is important to them and their families (Cadelago, Sacramento Bee, 8/25)

ACA Findings

Meanwhile, the poll also found that 62% of voters said they support the Affordable Care Act (Quinton, "KXJZ News," Capital Public Radio, 8/26). Thirty-three percent of respondents said they oppose the law.

According to the poll, the ACA for the first time is supported by majorities of California voters among all:

• Age groups;
• Races and ethnicities; and
• Regions of the state.

However, the law still divides California voters along party lines, the Bee reports. Specifically:

• 85% of Democrats said they support the ACA, while 11% oppose it; and
• 25% of Republicans said they support the ACA, while 68% oppose it (Sacramento Bee, 8/25).

Two-thirds of voters said California has successfully implemented the ACA ("KXJZ News," Capital Public Radio, 8/26).

Further, 74% of respondents said they agreed with the Supreme Court's decision to uphold subsidies in the federal exchange, compared with 22% who said they disagreed with the ruling (Sacramento Bee, 8/25).