Despite the frothing mouths of Know Nothings, the reality of Obamacare is that it leaves undocumented immigrants uninsured. The Health Care for All Act seeks to remedy that exclusion in California. If signed into law, the Senate Bill wouldn't consider immigration status for enrollment in Medi-Cal. It would also create a health insurance program similar to “Covered California.” As the proposed legislation makes its way through Sacramento, the Orange County DREAM Team (OCDT) is taking up the cause.
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“Since the implementation of the Affordable Car Act, about 1 million Californians have remained uninsured and ineligible for health care coverage due to their immigration status,” says OCDT member and Irvine resident Rosemary Gomez in a press statement. “SB 1005 promises financial efficacy as it will allow our state to minimize the expenses in our healthcare system by providing preventative care to all and avoiding health issues that can become costly.”
The OCDT sent a letter in support of the Health Care for All Act to Appropriations Committee Chairman Kevin de Leon. They also sent testimonies from undocumented and uninsured Orange County residents his way. The videos are also being made public on YouTube in a week-long campaign.
The first testimony uploaded on Monday features undocumented community college student Ramon Campos. He had a workplace accident two years ago when Campos injured his back as a mover. The best he could do two months after was see an 'UndocuChiropractor' licensed in Mexico. The treatment provided some relief, but without access to rehab, the pain is chronic having affected his school and work life.
More stories like Ramon Campos are going to uploaded everyday this week at noon at the OC DREAM Team's YouTube channel. Keep it tuned!
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Gabriel San Román is from Anacrime. He’s a journalist, subversive historian and the tallest Mexican in OC. He also once stood falsely accused of writing articles on Turkish politics in exchange for free food from DönerG’s!