Engaging With Californians’ Health and Aging Priorities
The Health Matters Forum on November 7, 2025 will bring California’s gubernatorial candidates together for a nonpartisan conversation on health and community well-being.
Confirmed participants include former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former Speaker of the California State Assembly and 41st Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa, and former California State Controller Betty T. Yee.
While the discussion will span a wide range of health priorities, it will also shine a spotlight on the need for long-term services and supports (LTSS), integrating aging considerations into statewide planning through blueprints like the California Plan Maestro para el Envejecimiento (MPA), and other key issues important to older adults.
By highlighting how aging intersects with broader health and policy challenges, the forum offers valuable insights into the candidates’ approaches and the choices that will shape the well-being of Californians.
Key Developments Shaping California’s Health Policy
California is navigating a set of pressing health and community services challenges that make the forum especially timely:
- Health care access and affordability: recent reports show that many Californians are delaying or skipping care due to cost, highlighting the need for policies that expand access and reduce financial barriers. For older adults, fragmented and uncoordinated care can lead to worse health and more expensive care.
- Long-term services and supports access and affordability: coverage of care at home and in the community for older adults and people with disabilities is limited. By 2033, 89% of Californians age 75+ will lack the financial resources to pay privately for care.
- Cross-sector coordination: we are all aging, but disconnected state and community planning efforts make it challenging to plan for an aging population. California’s Master Plan for Aging is a blueprint for strengthening health, social services, housing, and transportation across sectors to support aging well.
Why Attend?
Attending the Health Matters forum offers a unique opportunity to hear how gubernatorial candidates are responding to these pressing health challenges. While in-person attendance is by invitation only, the livestream will offer valuable insights for anyone shaping policy or community priorities. With questions shaped by community voices and grounded in lived experience, the forum highlights real priorities that can guide briefings, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring decisions are informed by both leadership perspectives and the needs of the communities you serve.
FAQ
Q: How can I attend the forum?
A: In-person attendance is by invitation only. The livestream will be available via HealthMattersForum.org, NBC4, and Telemundo 52.
Q: Will the forum be available for later viewing?
A: Yes, the event will be accessible on-demand after the live stream.
Q: How can I share my insights after the forum?
A: Attendees are encouraged to share key takeaways and reflections through social media channels, such as LinkedIn or Twitter, using the hashtag #HealthMattersCA to contribute to the broader conversation.
Q: Who is hosting the forum?
A: The event is hosted by 11 philanthropic foundations dedicated to advancing health and wellbeing in California, including:
- Archstone Foundation
- Blue Shield of California Foundation
- Fundación de Atención Médica de California
- Inland Empire Community Foundation
- Inland Empire Health Plan Foundation
- LA84 Foundation
- Fondo Metta
- Sierra Health Foundation
- The California Endowment
- The California Wellness Foundation
- La Fundación SCAN
Tune In
We encourage you to tune in to the Health Matters forum. Learn more about how to watch the livestream aquí.