This piece was originally published in The Bakersfield Californian.
Politicians love a slogan.
“Make America Healthy Again.” “A Healthy California For All.” “The Big Beautiful Bill.”
But slogans are easy. Making sure a child can see a pediatrician, a person with asthma can refill their inhaler, or a rural hospital can keep its maternity ward open? That’s the hard part.
It’s no secret that Congress left Americans across the country vulnerable when they made the largest cuts to health care in US history. Unfortunately, state leaders can’t undo all of the damage in the Big Beautiful Bill, but they can decide whether to make things better or worse.
That choice is playing out as California leaders negotiate the 2026-27 state budget.
At the center of these budget debates is Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, which provides free or low-cost health care to over a third of the state’s population. In the Central Valley, more than 2 million people rely on Medi-Cal for health coverage. In Merced, Madera, Fresno, Tulare, and Kern counties, more than half of all residents are enrolled in Medi-Cal.
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Funding Medi-Cal is no small task, especially now that Republicans in Congress enacted cuts that will leave California with billions fewer dollars to support the program. With millions of people served and health care costs rising, it can be tempting for policymakers to look at a large program like Medi-Cal and ask: Can we make cuts? To name just a few examples, state leaders are considering proposals that would increase Medi-Cal premiums for some immigrants and make it harder for seniors and people with disabilities with modest savings to qualify for coverage.
But Medi-Cal is not just another line item. It’s a lifeline for millions of real people — your neighbors, coworkers, fellow parishioners, and other community members who rely on Medi-Cal to stay healthy.
Cuts to Medi-Cal affect whether families can afford medications, see a doctor, access mental health care, or receive support that helps seniors and people with disabilities remain in their homes. Medi-Cal funding also helps keep hospitals and clinics open, supports health care workers, and strengthens local economies.
That matters a lot in places like the Central Valley, where many providers are under financial strain and people already face major barriers to care. Many communities deal with doctor shortages, long wait times, and long drives to see a specialist. Hospitals, especially rural ones, rely heavily on Medi-Cal funding to keep their doors open. When that funding goes away, entire communities feel the loss, and care could suddenly be a long drive away.
When people lose Medi-Cal coverage, they often delay treatment until a health problem becomes serious. What could have been addressed through routine primary care can turn into a trip to the emergency room. That’s worse for patients and more expensive in the long run.
That’s why the cuts that California leaders are considering feel so disconnected from recent promises. Just a few years ago, politicians celebrated expanding health care access and building a “Healthy California For All.” Those promises mean very little if people lose their coverage just a few years later.
This debate is happening at a time when so many people are already struggling with rising rents, gas, and grocery prices. For many households, health care costs are already tough to manage. Families can’t afford to lose coverage or be forced to suddenly pay out-of-pocket to fill their prescription.
California has the fourth largest economy in the world. We have plenty of resources, and policymakers have options beyond cuts. State leaders can pursue fairer ways to raise revenue from the corporations and households that are receiving billions of dollars in tax giveaways under the Big Beautiful Bill and earlier rounds of Trump-era cuts instead of stripping health care away from people who are already struggling.
“A Healthy California For All,” “Make America Healthy Again,” and “The Big Beautiful Bill” are just slogans if people can’t afford to see a doctor or have to drive hours because their local hospital shut down. If politicians are serious about building healthier communities, then health care can’t be the first thing on the chopping block when budgets get tight. A slogan won’t keep people healthy. Protecting Medi-Cal will.
