Access to universal care through Medi-Cal

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All Californians should access necessary health care regardless of their immigration status or where they were born.

Key resources:

report
Report based on over 350 comments collected by SEAAs about why they support the ACA and Medicaid expansion. Learn more
REPORT
A brief overview of the major challenges and recommendations for outreach and enrollment of our communities into health care. Learn more
A thumbnail of a video about the Affordable Care Act
In this webinar, health advocates review the attempts made in 2017 to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), present key findings from SEARAC’s Protect Our Health Care comment card campaign, and discuss next steps and how community members can get involved. Learn more
SEARAC staff and our California partners pose together at the Right to Heal event.

Featured story

SEARAC Unites With California Partners to Celebrate Our Right to Heal

SEARAC joined our California-based advocacy and health services partners to host the third annual “The Right to Heal: Centering Mental Health Multi-Racial Equity in California.” 

Learn more
Mee's family photo

“Everyday I woke up crying because I gave birth to him but couldn’t do anything about his medical bills. I cried every time I looked at the medical bills because I couldn’t afford them. I didn’t even want to take my son into the hospital if it was going to be that expensive.”

Mee Lor
as featured in our video “A Mother’s Love”
Person writing

“Before the Medicaid expansion, I was without health insurance for a long time and was only able to access the free health clinics in the East Bay to address this recurring stomach issue that I had. I would be in immense pain. With the Medicaid expansion, I have been able to see a doctor and receive regular check-ups regarding my illness. I know that having Medi-Cal has prolonged my lifespan.”

Anonymous respondent
Southeast Asian Americans Speak Out to Protect the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid Expansion report
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Latest related posts

ACA Open Enrollment Begins Amidst Government Shutdown, Millions Face Threat to Health Care Coverage 

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Medi-Cal Expansion Hub

SEARAC Applauds Reintroduction of Health Equity and Accountability Act

An individual stands in front a podium that says Health Equity for All. A group of individuals stand behind. The Capitol Building is in the background.

People Power in Action

Person holds sign saying My Mental Health Matters

Support for culturally competent mental health care

More research, community outreach, language and access support, diverse providers, and funding are needed on SEAA health and mental health.

Person ties bracelet around another person, people watch close by

Aging with dignity

The Older Americans Act, which provides important services for older adults, should be well-funded and improved to meet the needs of diverse elders, including SEAA elders.

People hold up signs in support of ACA

Universal health care through the Affordable Care Act

Since its passage in 2010, the ACA has greatly increased access to affordable health care for SEAAs and reduced the number of SEAAs withouth health insurance. We must keep building on these successes.

Join us tomorrow for SEARAC`s final installment of our “Rising Up” webinar series at 2:30 pm – 3 pm ET, when we will discuss findings and recommendations for improving SEAAs` participation in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.

CTE programs can offer a low-cost pathway toward high-demand careers by combining classroom education with hands-on training toward an industry credential.

We`ll also welcome research consultant Theresa Chen and Natalie Truong of @advancingjustice_aajc Link to sign up in bio.

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Jun 1

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Join us tomorrow for SEARAC's final installment of our “Rising Up” webinar series at 2:30 pm - 3 pm ET, when we will discuss findings and recommendations for improving SEAAs' participation in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. CTE programs can offer a low-cost pathway toward high-demand careers by combining classroom education with hands-on training toward an industry credential. We'll also welcome research consultant Theresa Chen and Natalie Truong of @advancingjustice_aajc Link to sign up in bio.

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For millions of Californians, Medi-Cal is a lifeline, especially those who are aging, low-income, live with disabilities, or have various immigration statuses. @CAgovernor is proposing to cut care for the members of our community who are struggling the most in his #CAbudget. Now is the time to get loud and fight back!

Help us make sure #CAleg hears our plea; share this post, make a call, and send a letter at the link in @healthaccessca bio!

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May 28

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For millions of Californians, Medi-Cal is a lifeline, especially those who are aging, low-income, live with disabilities, or have various immigration statuses. @CAgovernor is proposing to cut care for the members of our community who are struggling the most in his #CAbudget. Now is the time to get loud and fight back! Help us make sure #CAleg hears our plea; share this post, make a call, and send a letter at the link in @healthaccessca bio!

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🚨Today, the California state Assembly PASSED AB 1537 by Asm. Bryan, the No Side Jobs for ICE Act!

As ICE tears families apart and terrorizes local communities, it’s also spending millions trying to recruit local law enforcement into its ranks. Despite the protections passed in CA, nothing in state law prevents local police and sheriffs from ‘moonlighting’ as deportation agents.

AB 1537 will CLOSE this loophole and bring urgently needed transparency. THANK You to Asm. Bryan (@isaacgbryan), the co-authors, all legislators who voted “aye,” and all of the community organizations that came out in support. Now, on to the Senate!

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May 27

37 1
Open post by searac with ID 17982836949007678
🚨Today, the California state Assembly PASSED AB 1537 by Asm. Bryan, the No Side Jobs for ICE Act! As ICE tears families apart and terrorizes local communities, it’s also spending millions trying to recruit local law enforcement into its ranks. Despite the protections passed in CA, nothing in state law prevents local police and sheriffs from ‘moonlighting’ as deportation agents. AB 1537 will CLOSE this loophole and bring urgently needed transparency. THANK You to Asm. Bryan (@isaacgbryan), the co-authors, all legislators who voted “aye,” and all of the community organizations that came out in support. Now, on to the Senate!

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Every student deserves to be seen and heard. Our data must reflect their unique lived experiences. When Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students are lumped into broad categories, their struggles and their strengths both become invisible.

This AANHPI Heritage Month, SEARAC proudly supports the reintroduction of the All Students Count Act of 2026. This bill would require the federal government to collect and report education data disaggregated by distinct AANHPI ethnic groups.

Thank you to Sen. Mazie Hirono and Rep. Pramila Jayapal for championing this bill.

🔗 Learn more at the link in our bio.

#AllStudentsCount #CountUsAll

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May 21

39 0
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Every student deserves to be seen and heard. Our data must reflect their unique lived experiences. When Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students are lumped into broad categories, their struggles and their strengths both become invisible. This AANHPI Heritage Month, SEARAC proudly supports the reintroduction of the All Students Count Act of 2026. This bill would require the federal government to collect and report education data disaggregated by distinct AANHPI ethnic groups. Thank you to Sen. Mazie Hirono and Rep. Pramila Jayapal for championing this bill. 🔗 Learn more at the link in our bio. #AllStudentsCount #CountUsAll

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Last week, SEARAC hosted the third installment of our Rising Up webinar series, examining gender disparities in Southeast Asian American students` educational attainment. Kham Moua, SEARAC National Deputy Director, shared how immigration policies in the 1990s criminalized Southeast Asian boys and men. This created not just a school-to-prison pipeline, but a school-to-prison-to-deportation pipeline.

You can join SEARAC tomorrow, May 19, for the next installment of our webinar series at bit.ly/RisingUpPt4.

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May 18

46 0
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Last week, SEARAC hosted the third installment of our Rising Up webinar series, examining gender disparities in Southeast Asian American students' educational attainment. Kham Moua, SEARAC National Deputy Director, shared how immigration policies in the 1990s criminalized Southeast Asian boys and men. This created not just a school-to-prison pipeline, but a school-to-prison-to-deportation pipeline. You can join SEARAC tomorrow, May 19, for the next installment of our webinar series at bit.ly/RisingUpPt4.

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