SACRAMENTO, CA — Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez released the following statement after voting NO on SB 164, which would lower the Medi-Cal Asset Limit for seniors and the disability community:
“We cannot balance our budget on the backs of California’s most vulnerable. Don’t be fooled, lowering the Medi-Cal asset limit to $21,000 tells seniors and Californians with disabilities they must spend nearly everything they’ve worked for before they can access the care they need. In California, $21,000 isn’t even enough to purchase many reliable vehicles, yet we’re telling families that’s too much to have.
As the father of a son with severe disabilities, this issue is deeply personal. Programs like In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) that are funded through Medi-Cal are lifelines that allow people to remain safely in their homes with dignity and independence.
Families who have worked hard and saved responsibly should not be forced into poverty before they qualify for essential healthcare.
I’ll continue fighting to protect seniors, Californians with disabilities, and the families who depend on these critical services. We should be putting people over politics, not balancing budgets on the backs of those who need our help most.”
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