The 2022-23 California Spending Plan: Health

Oct 24, 2022 - Reduce Medi-Cal Premiums to Zero. Most Medi-Cal enrollees do not pay premiums. However, state residents with certain characteristics and who have incomes above standard Medicaid thresholds may enroll in Medi-Cal provided they pay monthly premiums.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4642

The 2025-26 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 13, 2025 - The state constitution has a balanced budget requirement, which means the balance of the SFEU must be set above zero for the upcoming fiscal year. Any level above zero is up to the discretion of the Legislature.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Mar 13, 2026 - Additionally, loss of Medi ‑Cal coverage could require RCs to pay for health care services for consumers at full cost to the state if no other source of care is available. Continuing legislative oversight will help ensure that exemptions for DDS consumers are implemented as intended.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5157

The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Analysis

Mar 2, 2026 - This lower limit indirectly affects certain provider taxes, as some states —including California —use their provider taxes to help pay for these directed  payments. Proposal Assumes Current Version of Health Plan Tax Expires at End of 2026 … The Governor ’s budget assumes the current structure of the health plan tax remains in effect through the end of December  2026.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5146

Considering Medi-Cal in the Midst of a Changing Fiscal and Policy Landscape

Oct 24, 2025 - As with childless adults who have satisfactory immigration status, the federal government currently pays 90  percent of emergency care costs. Beginning in October 2026, the federal government will only pay the state ’s  regular federal match rate (50  percent in California) for these  services.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5083

The 2021-22 Budget: Initial Comments on the Governor’s May Revision

May 17, 2021 - CalEPA = California Environmental Protection Agency; CalFire = California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection; CalRecycle = California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery; CARB = California Air Resources Board; ZEV = zero ‑emission vehicle; CCC = California Conservation Corps; CEC = California Energy Commission; CNRA = California Natural Resources Agency; DFW =
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4432/7

The 2022-23 Budget: Health Care Access and Affordability

Feb 23, 2022 - ACA Created Individual Mandate That Was Subsequently Set to Zero. As originally enacted, the ACA imposed a requirement, referred to as the individual mandate, that most individuals obtain specified minimum health insurance coverage or pay a penalty.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4560

The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Fiscal Outlook

Nov 19, 2025 - With no further loan planned under current law in 2026 ‑27, the General Fund will need to cover costs moving forward (the current state spending plan envisions gradually paying off this loan over more than a decade).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5092

The MCO Tax: A Flat Versus Tiered Structure

Jul 20, 2015 - Under either tax structure, an MCO that only enrolls Medi-Cal members would receive back all of its tax payments through increased Medi-Cal managed care rates, thus incurring a net liability of zero.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3292

The 2023-24 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 13, 2023 - The Legislature can choose to set the SFEU balance at any level above zero and so our Fiscal Outlook did not assume a specific balance. (Recent budgets have enacted SFEU balances around $2  billion to $4  billion.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4662