Report Shines Light on County Variation in California's Health Safety Net

Health Access says millions of Californians will stay uninsured next year. They include undocumented immigrants, people who have missed enrollment deadlines, or others who are excluded from the mandate to buy insurance.  Anthony Wright of Health Access says there’s a patchwork system of care for them.

“A family with the same circumstances in different counties will have potentially different access to care and to coverage as a result of their income or immigration status,” said Wright.

But Wright says the problem isn’t necessarily the variation, it’s the lack of uniform basic care. 

“Someone who doesn’t have access to basic safety net coverage can find themselves with delayed or denied care would have significant health consequences,” said Wright.

California counties are required to provide health care to the uninsured.

Wright says right now the local governments are making funding decisions about the level of care they will provide.