Health Care

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The Labor Center’s health care research aims to inform federal, state, and local policymaking to improve access to health coverage and make health care more affordable for workers and their families. Our research especially examines policy impacts for California low-income and immigrant working families and communities of color. Many of our publications include projections from the California Simulation of Insurance Markets (CalSIM) model, jointly developed with the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

Our factsheet for calculating Modified Adjusted Gross Income under the Affordable Care Act is available here.

Health Coverage

Who is and isn’t insured, coverage affordability, job-based health coverage, the ACA, Covered CA, and Medi-Cal.

Health Care Costs

Affordability of coverage and care, underlying cost trends, and solutions.

Immigrants & Health

Access to health coverage for immigrant families, undocumented Californians, and those with DACA.

CalSIM

California Simulation of Insurance Markets model projections, reports, and methodology.

Research & Publications

December 2, 2024 -

Laurel LuciaandMiranda Dietz

Medi-Cal Enrollment by District and County 2024

This page provides estimates of the number of individuals and percentage of population enrolled in Medi-Cal by county, congressional district, assembly district, and senate district, as of June 2024.

September 18, 2024 -

Miranda Dietz,Srikanth Kadiyala,Annie Rak, Sun-Yin Ho,Laurel Lucia,Dylan H. RobyandGerald F. Kominski

All 2.37 million Californians in the individual market will face higher premiums if Congress does not act by 2025

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) included additional federal subsidies to make health insurance more affordable in the individual market, but these expire at the end of 2025. If Congress does not extend the expanded subsidies and levels revert to those in the original Affordable Care Act, all 2.37 million Californians in the individual market—including those not receiving subsidies—would face higher health insurance premiums and be forced to choose between more expensive coverage, less generous coverage, or forgoing coverage all together and going uninsured.

August 21, 2024 -

Laurel LuciaandMiranda Dietz

Comments to Office of Health Care Affordability on the Hospital Price Problem for Workers in Monterey County

These comments were submitted to the California Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) in advance of the Board’s meeting in Monterey County on August 28, 2024. The comments describe the data and research showing that Monterey County has among the highest hospital prices in the state and country.

April 3, 2024 -

Alexis ManzanillaandLaurel Lucia

Expanding Covered California for All by Ending Immigration Status-Based Exclusions

Blog post exploring the factors surrounding a proposal to expand Covered California to undocumented Californians by creating a “mirror marketplace.” This would give undocumented Californians, who are prevented by federal law from participating in Covered California, the ability to shop, compare, and enroll in health plans.

March 11, 2024 -

Laurel LuciaandMiranda Dietz

Comments on Proposed Office of Health Care Affordability Statewide Health Care Spending Target Recommendations

Comments submitted to the California Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) in response to the proposal of a 3.0% statewide health care spending growth target for 2025 to 2029.

Spotlight

Blog posts

Health Care Tools & Resources

Press Coverage

January 6, 2025 -

Capital & Main

How Trump Administration Cuts Could Hurt Medi-Cal

During Trump’s first term, congressional Republicans proposed slashing Medicaid funding, though the measure did not clear the U.S. Senate. Had it passed, “California would have lost tens of billions of federal dollars,” Lucia said. Should the Trump administration go after the program on a similar scale in 2025, California wouldn’t be able to fill the resulting revenue hole with state funds.

November 4, 2024 -

California Healthline

California Expanded Medi-Cal to Unauthorized Residents. The Results Are Mixed.

California this year took the final step in opening Medi-Cal, its Medicaid program, to every eligible resident regardless of immigration status. It’s a significant expansion for an already massive safety net program.

November 3, 2024 -

Times of San Diego

For the First Time, DACA Recipients Eligible to Enroll in Covered California Plans

Open enrollment season has begun statewide for people who need health insurance. This year, thanks to funding through the Inflation Reduction Act, health care is expected to be more accessible and affordable to Californians.

October 27, 2024 -

Capital & Main

Election May Decide Health Coverage Fate for Millions as Some Affordable Care Act Subsidies Are Set to Expire

The Biden-era policies contributed to the lowest rate of uninsured U.S. residents in history. If they are allowed to expire next year, experts such as Miranda Dietz said they worry that health insurance costs and the rate of uninsured Americans will increase significantly.

October 21, 2024 -

San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

Political Playback: California Capitol News You Might Have Missed 

According to the University of California, Berkeley Labor Center, the new minimum-wage increase to $25 an hour over the next decade will affect approximately 460,00 workers in the health care industry.