State Budget

In California, between 2007 and 2009 at the height of the "great recession," the number of children uninsured for at least part of the year increased from 1.1 to 1.5 million, as many parents lost jobs and health benefits. During hard times like these, we expect our state leaders to at least protect the children’s health safety net, including Healthy Families and Medi-Cal, programs that provide affordable health coverage to roughly 4.5 million California children in low-income, working families. Our legislators and Governor must find a responsible solution and fully fund the programs that protect California children's health - for their futures and for the future health of the state economy.

While the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act provides our state with very strong incentives to preserve and expand children's health coverage, our Governor has proposed drastic cuts to Medi-Cal and Healthy Families. In tough fiscal times, parents prioritize the needs of their children, and our leaders must do the same in order to ensure the future prosperity of our state. Read our updated budget factsheets here.