Today, Governor Newsom’s May Revision of the proposed 2025-26 state budget includes serious, significant and draconian cuts to older adults’ access to health and long-term care. The proposed cuts represent a huge step backwards and will only make it more expensive to age in California.

We are strongly opposed to the Governor’s proposal to strip health and long-term care, including IHSS from tens of thousands of older adults and people with disabilities on fixed incomes by reinstating the Medi-Cal asset limit of $2,000. This proposal is punitive and unfairly targets older adults and people with disabilities on Medi-Cal – no other group on Medi-Cal has an asset limit. A $2,000 asset limit will force older adults and people with disabilities to live in deep poverty in order to access essential care, and terminate coverage for current Medi-Cal members who have been able to accrue minimal resources. Reinstating the asset limit will not result in savings the state is seeking, and will have limited impact on the caseload growth. The consequence of bringing back the $2,000 asset limit also disincentives older adults and people with disabilities to apply for Medi-Cal because of burdensome and confusing rules. 

We are also opposed to the Governor’s proposals to roll back health care access for undocumented people, including older adults. The proposals to freeze enrollment into Medi-Cal, charge unaffordable premiums, and remove coverage for long-term care, IHSS, and dental benefits for this population deprive these Californians of the care they need now and in the future. 

We recognize that the state faces very real budget shortfalls. However, we know from experience that any short-term budget relief that may come from weakening the safety-net only leads to deeper and more challenging problems in the future. The demographics of California are shifting rapidly. By 2030, one in four Californians will be over the age of 60, and many will live on low, fixed incomes. We cannot cut our way out of this demographic challenge. To ensure that access to health care and other critical services remain accessible to all of us as we age, we need to focus on raising revenue not cutting services. 

These policies undermine the Governor’s commitment to creating communities where older adults and disabled people are valued and cared for. Justice in Aging will work with the Legislature and Administration to prevent these harmful proposals from taking effect.