"California eyes end to Medi-Cal premiums for children, vulnerable adults"
CalMatters interviewed Dr. Nadereh Pourat, professor of health policy and management, about reducing Medi-Cal premiums to zero for children.
![Pediatrician checking the inside of a child's mouth](https://ph.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/styles/hero/public/2022-08/2022.02.17_Pourat_CalMatters_Masthead.png?itok=ZF2IxNjW)
Medi-Cal, the state’s safety net health program, isn’t free for everyone.
More than half a million of California’s lowest-income children, pregnant individuals and working disabled adults are required to pay health insurance premiums, ranging from $13 a month to as much as $350.
That may change this year under two proposals being floated in Sacramento. Both plans aim to align with the latest trend in public health – to provide the most access to those who need it with as little burden as possible.
Faculty Referenced by this Article
![Faculty/staff profile placeholder image](https://ph.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-07/person-placeholder.jpg?itok=Yj28CoTl)
Dr. Ron Andersen is the Wasserman Professor Emeritus in the UCLA Departments of Health Policy and Management.
![James Macinko](https://ph.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-07/Macinko%2C%20J_500x500_10.jpg?itok=bsG1e-s6)
Professor of Community Health Sciences & Health Policy and Management, and Associate Dean for Research
![Faculty/staff profile placeholder image](https://ph.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-07/person-placeholder.jpg?itok=Yj28CoTl)
EMPH Academic Program Director with expertise in healthcare marketing, finance, and reproductive health policy, teaching in the EMPH, MPH, MHA program
![Michelle Keller](https://ph.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-07/keller-michelle_500x500.jpg?itok=uJryn-xx)
Dr. Michelle S. Keller is a health services researcher whose research focuses on the use and prescribing of high-risk medications.
Nationally recognized health services researcher and sociomedical scientist with 25+ years' experience in effectiveness and implementation research.
Related Content
![Tablet and computer screen with report findings](https://ph.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-08/2022.05.05_Pourat_CHPR_Thumbnail.png?itok=j8rhIad6)
An evaluation led by Dr. Nadereh Pourat, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health professor of health policy and management, found a decreased use of emergency department visits and hospitalizations and slower growth in estimated Medi-Cal payments found in public hospitals compared with other hospitals.
Source: UCLA Center for Health Policy Research Read Full Article![Nurse](https://ph.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-08/2022.03.29_Pourat_CHPR_Thumbnail.png?itok=TNUVIEHu)
A team led by Dr. Nadereh Pourat, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health professor of health policy and management, has found that Medi-Cal patients with complex needs experienced improvements in some health-related outcomes with the Health Homes Program.
Source: UCLA Center for Health Policy Research Read Full Article