California is now the first state to expand its Medicaid program to include health coverage for some immigrants living in the U.S. illegally.
On Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a measure that makes undocumented adults between the ages of 19 and 25 who meet income requirements eligible for the state's Medicaid program.
The legislation is scheduled to take effect in 2020. State officials estimate the plan will cover roughly 90,000 people in the first year and cost $98 million.
To help offset that cost, the state is going to reinstate the individual mandate, requiring Californians who don't sign up for health insurance to pay a penalty.
California already offers free or low-cost health care coverage to people 18 years old and younger, no matter what their immigration status is.
