More than 200,000 Los Angeles County residents have been disenrolled from full-scope Medi-Cal coverage since federal funding cuts took effect, sparking what local officials are calling a healthcare crisis that is growing by the day. Since the passage of H.R.1 in 2025, the county has seen an average of 1,100 people lose their health benefits daily, with children and other vulnerable populations being disproportionately affected.
The disenrollment process, a result of new federal guidelines, has already had a significant impact on families across the county. Approximately one in five individuals who lost their coverage is a child. The data reveals a particularly troubling picture for the youngest Angelenos: 787 infants, 4,000 toddlers, and over 15,000 school-aged children are now without the comprehensive health coverage Medi-Cal provides. Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program, providing essential health services to millions of low-income individuals and families.
In response to the escalating situation, a coalition of health advocates and county officials are championing a new ballot initiative, Measure ER, which will go before voters on June 2nd. The measure proposes a temporary half-cent sales tax to generate local funds dedicated to preserving the county's health services.
An uneven impact
The loss of health coverage is not being felt equally across Los Angeles County. Supervisorial District 2, which includes communities such as Compton, Inglewood, and parts of South Los Angeles, has been hit the hardest. The district has seen 62,447 residents disenrolled from Medi-Cal, accounting for nearly a third of the county's total losses, despite representing only about 24 per cent of total enrollment. This highlights a severe concentration of impact in some of the county’s most vulnerable communities.
Specific neighbourhoods are experiencing alarming rates of disenrollment. In Compton, for example, the rate for children aged one to five has reached as high as 9 per cent. Young adults between 21 and 24 are also dropping off the rolls at rates between 6 and 9 per cent across multiple cities in the district. This situation mirrors fiscal challenges being faced by municipalities across the region, with some cities having to declare fiscal emergencies over other funding issues.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, who co-authored the motion to place Measure ER on the ballot, warns that the consequences extend to all residents, not just those losing coverage directly. The strain on the system affects hospital wait times and insurance premiums for everyone.
When people lose access to care, premiums go up, ER wait times increase, and our entire healthcare system becomes so strained that it worsens the affordability crisis. We cannot wait for Washington to act. I am urging every voter in Los Angeles County to vote yes on Measure ER on June 2nd. It’s up to us to protect our communities now.
A system under strain
The consequences of the federal cuts are already visible. Seven of LA County’s public health clinics have been forced to close their doors permanently following reductions in grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Patients who once relied on these local clinics are now being redirected to other facilities, which are facing the same threat of financial instability and potential closure. The consequences of the federal cuts are also significant. According to an analysis presented by the Yes on ER campaign, every dollar in Medi-Cal funding that is lost translates to an estimated $1.85 in lost economic output for the county. The current cuts place approximately 63,800 jobs and $9 billion in annual economic activity at risk. This financial threat comes at a time when the county has been working to combat other large-scale health care fraud schemes that have also cost the public millions, and as seen in the Fast-growing Springs Fire forces evacuations in Southern California, the region faces numerous challenges.
The issue of shoring up local health services is a challenge faced by other counties nationwide. In Florida, for instance, officials and advocates have been urging their local government to open a long-delayed mental health facility to address their own community’s needs.
Measure ER proposed as a local solution
With 3.5 million people in Los Angeles County relying on Medi-Cal, advocates say a local solution is urgently needed. The proposed Measure ER would establish a temporary half-cent sales tax, with the generated revenue specifically earmarked for community clinics, emergency rooms, and public health services. The goal is to create a financial backstop to counteract the federal cuts and stabilize the county's healthcare infrastructure.
A broad coalition has formed to support the measure, including St. John’s Community Health, labour unions SEIU Local 721 and SEIU Local 2015, the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project LA County, and the Health Justice Action Fund, among others. They argue the measure is essential to prevent a complete collapse of the safety net for low-income residents.
The reliance on Medi-Cal is particularly high in several cities. In Bellflower, more than half the population is enrolled in the program. In Paramount, the figure is 37.1 per cent, and in Long Beach, one in four residents depends on Medi-Cal for their health coverage. As the June 2nd vote approaches, voters will decide whether to approve the sales tax increase to fund these essential services.
