Yesterday in Sacramento, hundreds of CARA members — including health care advocates, union members, community leaders and everyday residents — came together on the steps of the State Capitol for the Fight for Our Health rally to urge state leaders to protect and strengthen health care for all, especially as federal cuts loom large and threaten vital coverage like Medi-Cal.

For CARA members, this fight hits close to home. Many older adults depend on affordable health care services, prescription coverage, hospital access, and preventive care that keep us healthy and independent. At the rally, speakers highlighted how deep cuts to health programs could force seniors to pay more out of pocket, wait longer for care, or lose services that help maintain quality of life.

Organizers made it clear that this isn’t just about abstract budgets — it’s about real people: neighbors, grandparents, veterans, and friends who have worked a lifetime and now count on stable, accessible health care. They called on the governor and legislature to find ways to fill funding gaps and ensure that health coverage remains secure for retirees and future generations alike.

Many attendees felt empowered to raise their voices together — because good health care is something retirees have earned and deserve.

Click on the news outlet below to read any of the articles:

• Cal Matters: The fight over how to pay for Medi-Cal puts pressure on Newsom to raise taxes

• ABC10: Healthcare advocates criticize Newsom’s budget proposal over lack of plan to offset federal cuts

• KCRA: Advocates rally at California Capitol for affordable healthcare