Time Is Almost Up on California’s Ticking Medicaid Time Bomb
2nd June 2026
Today is primary day in California—with high-profile races for governor and Los Angeles mayor—so voters should prioritize candidates with strong records of fiscal discipline.
The Golden State has a history of fiscal irresponsibility that has strained budgets, and Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program, is the clearest example. The program has expanded drastically over time, and changing federal policies signal the gig is up for California when it comes to reliance on federal dollars.
Medi-Cal currently covers approximately 14.5 million Californians—over one-third of the state’s population—and accounts for $222 billion in total annual spending. This makes the program the largest single item in the 2026-2027 governor’s budget by far.
This bloated budget reflects significant structural problems.