New Findings from University of Hawaii at Manoa in the Area of Science Reported (Expanded Medi-Cal Coverage and Persisting Access Barriers for Latino Immigrants in California): Science

2026 OCT 16 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at NewsRx Science Daily -- Investigators publish new report on Science. According to news reporting from Honolulu, United States, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “In California, health and community-based organizations serve as vital intermediaries, helping Latino immigrants navigate Medi-Cal (the state’s Medicaid program) enrollment and access to care. The 2024 Medi-Cal expansion extended eligibility to undocumented immigrants who meet income criteria.”

The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, “Despite this policy shift, persistent barriers to care remain at the individual, insurance system, and organizational levels. This study examines Latino immigrants’ navigation of health insurance and access to care in California. As part of the MIRA Latino study, we interviewed leaders from 32 California health and community-based organizations between May 2024 to April 2025. Two researchers independently coded transcripts in Dedoose. Themes were organized using our Insurance Navigation and Healthcare Access Framework, developed from emergent themes and adapted from Andersen’s Behavioral Model, examining predisposing and enabling factors at individual, organizational, and insurance system levels. The framework effectively organized themes despite substantial cross-level overlap. Key multilevel barriers included immigration status and institutional mistrust at the individual level; restrictive Medi-Cal income thresholds and complex application processes at the insurance system level, which generated burdens for both clients and staff; and caseworker delays and funding constraints at the insurance and organizational levels. Navigation support provided by organizations included education, application assistance and follow-up, appeals, and linkage to health services. Community organizations play a critical role in bridging gaps in government systems amid California’s 2024 Medi-Cal expansion to income-eligible undocumented immigrants. However, limited and unstable funding constrains their capacity.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Sustained state investment and stronger agency partnerships are essential to support outreach and ensure equitable access to care as health and immigration policies continue to evolve.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Expanded Medi-Cal Coverage and Persisting Access Barriers for Latino Immigrants in California. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 2026. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health can be contacted at: Springer, One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, Ny, United States. (Springer - www.springer.com; Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health - http://www.springerlink.com/content/1557-1912/)

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Clara B. Barajas, Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, United States. Additional authors for this research include Maria-Elena Young, Arturo Vargas Bustamante, Imelda Padilla-Frausto, Sarina Rodriguez, Fabiola M. Perez-Lua, Jim P. Stimpson, Dylan H. Roby, Ninez A. Ponce and Alexander N. Ortega.

Publisher contact information for the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health is: Springer, One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, Ny, United States.

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)