California Eligibility Rules for Pre-, Post-Natal Care Unconstitutional
On Tuesday, a San Francisco Superior Court judge overturned a state law that requires low-income women to live in California for six months before qualifying for health care coverage during pregnancy and immediately following childbirth, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Superior Court Judge Patrick Mahoney ruled that the 1991 law is unconstitutional because it penalizes women who exercise their right to move to California (Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle, 12/17).
Law Details
The state program is open to women who are ineligible for Medi-Cal but whose incomes do not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level.
Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program.
Under California law, uninsured women who meet the income and residency requirements are eligible for medical services during their pregnancies and for 60 days after giving birth (California Healthline, 4/28).
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