Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act Bars Immigrants from Medicare

President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July, a law that prohibits several categories of lawfully present immigrants from accessing Medicare. The restrictions target refugees, asylum-seekers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, trafficking victims, survivors of domestic violence, and individuals with work visas. Approximately 100,000 immigrants currently enrolled in the program will be disenrolled by January 4.

Republican lawmakers and Trump argue that taxpayer funds should not support healthcare for immigrants without authorization. The Congressional Budget Office estimates these restrictions will reduce federal spending by $5.1 billion by 2034, while other projections suggest 1.4 million legal immigrants could eventually lose health insurance and social support.

In California, Governor Gavin Newsom proposed a state budget that declines to backfill these federal cuts, citing state budget shortfalls. While some Democratic lawmakers and State Assembly member Mialisa Bonta are seeking legislative solutions to enroll affected immigrants into Medi-Cal, the California Department of Finance stated the administration cannot offset the federal policy changes due to fiscal pressures.