SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California’s new $214 billion budget, passed by the state Senate on Thursday, moves the Golden State closer to universal health coverage. 

The plan, which is expected to be signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, puts almost $1.5 billion over three years toward subsidies to lower the premiums for people who buy health insurance through the “CoveredCA” exchange. 

Anthony Wright, executive director of the nonprofit Health Access, says the aid is tailored to low-and middle-income people who make between $17,000 and $72,000 a year.

“About a million Californians might get some help to better defray the costs of healthcare,” says Wright. “Of those, about 300,000 get enough help that they may be newly covered from previously being uninsured.”

Read more: https://www.publicnewsservice.org/2019-06-14/budget-policy-and-priorities/new-ca-budget-moves-closer-to-universal-health-coverage/a66813-1