And Before You Go Some Good News

For the first time in at least 15 years, endangered coho salmon are spawning in narrow Marin County creeks, with heavy rains allowing them deeper into their historical habitat.

Though there is a healthy population of coho salmon that regularly returns from the Pacific Ocean to spawn in the regions coastal creeks, the fish were recently spotted in more inland waters.

This is the first time in a long time weve seen them way, way, way up in these tiny streams, Preston Brown, the director of conservation at SPAWN, told The San Francisco Chronicle. They swim, leap, wriggle and jump theyre pretty acrobatic actually. But they need enough water to carry them through.

Thanks for reading. Ill be back tomorrow. Soumya

P.S. Heres todays Mini Crossword, and a clue: There are an estimated five sextillion in a drop of water .

Jonah Candelario, Steven Moity and Mariel Wamsley contributed to California Today. You can reach the team at .

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Can I Get Us Visa If I Buy A House

The legislation would create a new homeowner visa that would be renewable every three years, but the proposal would not put them on a path to citizenship. To be eligible, a person would have to buy a primary residence of at least USD 250,000 and spend a total of USD 500,000 on residential real estate.

What If I Have Daca Status

Individuals with DACA status do not qualify to enroll in health coverage through Access Health CT, including Medicaid, or receive tax credits to help pay for coverage. Other options if you have DACA status:

• Emergency treatment under the emergency Medicaid program, which can only be obtained by calling the DSS Benefit Center at .
• Individuals with DACA status can buy full cost health insurance outside of Access Health CT or through their employer.

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Documents Needed To Enroll In Covered California

The law requires that lawfully present residents who enroll in Covered California show proof of lawful presence. Covered California only requires that the person seeking health coverage show proof of immigration status. Family members who are not applying for medical coverage will not be asked for their proof of lawful presence. Any documents and information provided by individuals applying for coverage through Covered California will not be used for any purpose other than to confirm eligibility.

When applying for medical coverage, you may be asked to provide the following information on your application:

• Documents to verify U.S. citizenship or lawful immigration status
• Information on family members who need health coverage
• Social Security information
• Mailing address

Overview Of Undocumented Immigrants

Undocumented immigrants are foreign-born individuals residing in the U.S. without authorization. This group includes individuals who entered the country without authorization and individuals who entered the country lawfully and stayed after their visa or status expired. The primary reasons individuals immigrate to the U.S. are for better job opportunities, to reunite with family, and for increased safety.1 Undocumented immigrants account for roughly four in ten noncitizens, while the remaining six in ten are lawfully present immigrants. Many immigrant families include people with mixed immigration status, and the majority of children with a noncitizen parent are U.S.-born citizens.

It is estimated that there were 10.5 million undocumented immigrants residing in the U.S. as of 2017, accounting for about 3% of the total U.S. population.2 Estimates from the Pew Hispanic Center show that the number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. has been declining since 2007 .3 This decline largely reflects a large decrease in the number of new undocumented immigrants. As a result, an increasing share of undocumented immigrants are people who have been living in the U.S. for many years. As of 2017, about two-thirds of undocumented immigrant adults in the U.S. had been in the U.S. for more than 10 years, up from 41% in 2007.4

Figure 1: Estimates of Number of Undocumented Immigrants Living in the U.S., in Millions, 2006-2017

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Can Immigrants Select From Any Available Health Plans During Open Enrollment

Yes, as long as theyre lawfully present in the U.S.

Open enrollment for individual-market health insurance coverage runs from November 1 to January 15 in most states, although there are some states that have different deadlines. During this window, any non-incarcerated, lawfully present U.S. resident can enroll in a health plan through the exchange in their state. Its also an option to enroll outside the exchange during that window, although financial assistance is not available outside the exchange.

Options For Affordable Health Care

The majority of undocumented immigrants have limited options in terms of their health care coverage. Unfortunately, this also means limited health care access. Undocumented immigrants can access basic primary care through community health centers. They can also access family planning and basic reproductive health care through Title X clinics.Planned Parenthood health centers charge patients fees on a sliding-scale depending on income, regardless of immigration status or whether or not they have health insurance. And under federal law, all hospital emergency rooms must screen and stabilize patients and provide basic emergency care. This is true even for those who are uninsured, undocumented, or both.

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Will I Need An Id To Receive Treatment

It depends on where youre seeking medical services. Some healthcare facilities have policies that make their employees ask for a photo ID. But this isnt required for many healthcare sites. If its being asked, its done to verify that medical care is being offered to the right person.

If you dont have an ID and a healthcare provider asks you for it, just let them know. There are often other ways to verify your identity.

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Doesnt Have To Be Free Just A Fair Price

The governors latest proposal would help Virginia Moscoso, a 29-year-old mother of two in Yolo County who is undocumented. She is enrolled in restricted-scope Medi-Cal, which is limited to emergencies and pregnancies, but hopes she would obtain full benefits if the proposal is approved in the final budget.

Full-scope benefits allow people coverage for routine, preventive care, long-term care and in-home supportive services.

Moscoso is especially interested in dental care. A few months back, she had a toothache that she alleviated with home remedies, but she is overdue for a checkup.

In the past, Moscoso has worked seasonal jobs in farm fields, but her family of four mostly relies on her husbands earnings of about $35,000, which means they would likely qualify just barely for Medi-Cal under Newsoms expansion. Her children are already enrolled in Medi-Cal, and thats a huge help, she said.

Shes grateful that apart from her pregnancies, she hasnt needed to use her emergency Medi-Cal. But if she qualified for primary care, it would make a lot more sense than waiting until shes ill in the hospital.

For me it would be a great blessing, Moscoso said. Because when you go to the doctor its never just the one visit you need tests and medication, and it adds up.

Many people without health insurance seek care at community clinics where services may be offered on a sliding fee scale, so what they pay is based on their income.

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California Poised To Extend Health Care To All Undocumented Immigrants

Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a plan to allow people who are in the country illegally to sign up for Medi-Cal.

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California has seen a sharp decline over the past decade in the number of residents who lack health insurance with one major exception.

The federal Affordable Care Act helped increase coverage rates but excludes undocumented immigrants, who now make up the bulk of the states uninsured population.

Consider this: Nearly two-thirds of undocumented immigrants in California who are younger than 65 lack health insurance, compared with less than 10 percent of all Californians in that age range, according to a recent analysis from the Center for Labor Research and Education at the University of California, Berkeley.

Its a large, lingering disparity, and one that Gov. Gavin Newsom has turned his attention toward in the new year.

In a budget plan unveiled this week, Newsom proposed allowing undocumented immigrants to sign up for Medi-Cal, the states health program for low-income Californians.

How Much Its Going To Cost Taxpayers

Health care is not cheap and countries thrive through good health care. There is an estimate of over 10.5 million undocumented residents and around 6 million do not have healthcare of any sort.

There is no cost estimate for now but it is safe to say that it will be an expensive journey. Those in favor of the debate believe that eventually the payoff will be good for the country and help America thrive.

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Health Insurance For Undocumented Immigrants

Health insurance is confusing. There are many terms to know and policies to be aware of. But medical care and health insurance usually go hand-in-hand, so its often necessary to be aware of what your coverage options are.

In general, there are many health insurance options in the U.S. But due to a few laws, coverage options are unfortunately more limited for undocumented immigrants.

Regardless, you still have a right to obtain health insurance.

Are Undocumented Immigrants Eligible For Aca Coverage

No. Although the ACA provides benefits to U.S. citizens and lawfully present immigrants alike, it does not directly provide any benefits for undocumented immigrants.

The ACA specifically prevents non-lawfully present immigrants from enrolling in coverage through the exchanges ). And they are also not eligible for Medicaid under federal guidelines. So the two major cornerstones of coverage expansion under the ACA are not available to undocumented immigrants.

Some states described in more detail below have implemented programs to cover undocumented immigrants with low incomes, particularly children and/or people who are pregnant.

Its important to understand that if youre lawfully present, you can enroll in a plan through the exchange even if some members of your family are not lawfully present. Family members who arent applying for coverage are not asked for details about their immigration status. And HealthCare.gov clarifies that immigration details you provide to the exchange during your enrollment and verification process are not shared with any immigration authorities.

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How Can An Illegal Immigrant Get A Work Permit

Many lawyers will promise to get undocumented immigrants work permit. But you have to be careful about this. The catch is that you cant simply apply for a work permit or EAD in itself. In order to apply for a work permit a person must make an application for legal status in this country on some other basis.

Your Health Insurance Options

• Child Health Plus: All New York children can get Child Health Plus, regardless of immigration status or income.
• Medicaid: Free or very low cost insurance for New Yorkers with low income.
• If you are pregnant, you can get Medicaid regardless of immigration status, as long as you meet other requirements.
• If you are undocumented and not pregnant, you can still get Medicaid for emergency services, as long as you meet other requirements.
• DACAmented New Yorkers with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status can qualify for Medicaid.

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No Ballot Access For Unauthorized Immigrants

Immigrants lacking legal authorization to live in the U.S. cannot vote in federal and state elections, said Matthew Weil, director of the Washington-based Bipartisan Policy Center’s Elections Project. The project explores and analyzes voter legislation to ultimately inform policy makers.

Almost all localities in the U.S., and all in Texas, limit elections to citizens. Even in the small handful of localities where non-citizens can vote in local elections, those localities only allow lawfully present noncitizens to vote.

Weil noted New York City is one example of the few localities that allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. New York City allows Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals holders but not all unauthorized immigrants to vote, as reported by the Associated Press in early January. There are no circumstances where noncitizens can vote in federal elections.

“I don’t know of any jurisdiction that allows somebody who’s here undocumented to access the ballot box,” Weil said.

There are an estimated 1.7 million people lacking legal immigration status in Texas, according to 2019 estimates by the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan policy research institution. More than 20% of them, according to the institute, have been in the U.S. for 20 or more years.

We Need Immigration Reform To Protect The Deferred Action For Parents Of Americans And Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals Programs

In June 2016, the Supreme Court failed to reach a decision on the DAPA and DACA programs, whose full implementation would have been a critical step toward real immigration reform by ensuring the health and safety of undocumented immigrant families. This non-decision left millions of Americans at risk of having their families torn apart through deportation, and solidified their barriers to care. In the meantime, immigrants who were able to take part in deferred action programs still lack comprehensive access to critical health insurance and coverage programs under current law.

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What Is Going On With Illegal Immigrant Health Insurance

During the 2016 presidential elections, all 19 of the democratic candidates were in support of providing illegal immigrants health insurance because of the popular idea that our countrys economy will be healthy if more people are physically healthy. It is seen as a humane step towards a better future for America as a whole. A New York Times survey showed that all 19 candidates answered yes to a question regarding offering illegal immigrants health insurance.

However, the Trump administration had a different opinion, stating that All Democrats just raised their hands for giving millions of illegal aliens unlimited healthcare. The current federal government will likely not make any national decisions or policies for illegal immigrant health insurance, but states can put their own solutions in place.

Medical Care For Undocumented Immigrants

Regardless of your insurance or immigration status, you have a right to receive medical care in the U.S.

If you have insurance, its recommended to seek medical care at a place thats covered by your insurance policy. You can find a list of covered organizations near you by calling your insurance provider or by looking at your plan information online.

But other options are available too, especially if you dont have insurance. Places like public and critical access hospitals and emergency rooms offer healthcare services to people with and without insurance.

And while healthcare is generally expensive in the U.S., there are many organizations that offer care at little to no cost. This includes free clinics and federally-qualified health centers .

If you need help navigating your medical care options, you can also consider using a patient advocate . Patient advocates are people who serve as guides that can point you in the right direction to healthcare services and support tools.

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How To Enroll For Health Coverage In California

If you are looking for health insurance in California, visit the state health insurance exchange Covered California. Alternatively, you can use our online services at HFC to get free, instant quotes for health insurance plans from top insurance providers in California. Just fill out our confidential form to get started. No contact information is required, and youre under no obligation to buy.

The Government Should Pay For Health Care For Immigrants

The reality is that any way we look at it, we need to provide some sort of health insurance for immigrants who are not lawfully present, and the government, not private health care organizations, should be the one paying for this. Toward this end, some limited medical coverage in California is now being offered to illegal immigrants through Medi-Cal.

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Health Coverage For Nonelderly Noncitizens

In 2020, more than three-quarters of the 27.3 million nonelderly uninsured were U.S.-born and naturalized citizens . The remaining 24% were noncitizens.

However, noncitizens, including lawfully present and undocumented immigrants, were significantly more likely to be uninsured than citizens.

These differences in coverage also occur among children, with noncitizen children more likely to lack coverage compared to their citizen counterparts. Moreover, among citizen children, those with at least one noncitizen parent were significantly more likely to be uninsured as those with citizen parents .