Rapid federal policy changes are creating significant uncertainty for California’s health care system—with implications that extend beyond health coverage to the state’s workforce, economy, and economic mobility. A new EDGE fact sheet, Federal Policy Shifts—Impacts on California’s Health Care System and Workforce, highlights how recent federal actions could increase the number of uninsured Californians, raise health care costs for families and employers, and strain the health care workforce that supports communities across the state.
These developments directly intersect with EDGE’s 2026 policy priorities—particularly the need to invest in the social determinants of work, protect and sustain California’s workforce infrastructure, and ensure that systems supporting workers and families remain strong and equitable. Changes to coverage, funding, and health care access can create ripple effects across labor markets, education and training pathways, and the broader systems that support economic mobility.
The fact sheet also highlights actions California can take to mitigate harm, including stabilizing health care financing, reducing administrative barriers to coverage, investing in outreach and enrollment support, and closely monitoring equity impacts.
Read the full fact sheet: Federal Policy Shifts—Impacts on California’s Health Care System and Workforce.