Medi-Cal Changes

Starting January 1, 2026, when you apply for or renew your Medi-Cal, we will look at what you own. This is called an asset check. Assets are things you own that have value.

WHO THIS APPLIES TO:

You may be affected if you :

• Are age 65 and older and meet the household income limit for Medi-Cal.
• Have a disability (physical, mental, or developmental).
• Live in a nursing home.
• Are in a family that makes too much money to qualify under federal tax rules.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW:

• The most you can own (asset limit) is $130,000 for one person.
• You can add $65,000 for every extra person in your family. The maximum is 10 people.
• Assets that count include:
• Bank accounts
• Cash
• More than one house or vehicle
• Assets that don't count include:
• The home you live in
• One Vehicle
• Household items
• Some savings, like retirement accounts
• If you have Medi-Cal, we look at your assets every year when you renew.
• The income rules for Medi-Cal have not changed.

See the Help Center for more information.

Starting January 1, 2026, some adults will no longer be able to sign up for full-scope Medi-Cal coverage based on their immigration status. 

WHO THIS APPLIES TO:

• Please see Immigration Status Categories chart to see if you are subject to the Adult Expansion Enrollment Freeze.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW:

• If you already have full-scope Medi-Cal, you can stay covered no matter your immigration status.
• To keep your Medi-Cal, you must:
• Fill out your renewal form as required
• Meet Medi-Cal eligibility rules (like income and living in California)
• Use your benefits and renew on time. If you don’t, your Medi-Cal could end.
• If your Medi-Cal ends, you will have a three-month grace period from the last date of eligibility provided on your Notice of Action, to reenroll into full scope Medi-Cal.

If you do not re-enroll by the end of the three-month grace period, you must reapply for Medi-Cal. You will be eligible only for restricted scope Medi-Cal, which covers:

• Emergency care
• Pregnancy-related care
• Nursing home care

Who can still get full-scope Medi-Cal, regardless of immigration status:

• Children (age 0-18)
• Pregnant people (Pregnancy coverage lasts through your whole pregnancy and up to one year after it ends.)
• Former foster youth under age 26, who were in foster care on their 18th birthday

Starting July 1, 2026, some Medi-Cal members will stop getting full-scope dental services as part of their Medi-Cal coverage.

WHO THIS APPLIES TO:

• Please see Immigration Status Categories chart to see if you are subject to changes to Dental Coverage.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW:

• You can still get care for emergency dental needs, including: 
• Serious tooth pain
• Infections
• Tooth extractions
• You will also get full-scope dental if you are pregnant, and you will get it for one year after your pregnancy ends.

Starting October 1, 2026, the federal government will change how it classifies some immigration statuses (your legal standing in the U.S. based on how and why you came here).

WHO THIS APPLIES TO:

You may be affected if you get Medi-Cal and are:

• A refugee or asylee - someone who left their home country for safety and don't yet have a Green Card
• A humanitarian parolee - someone allowed into the U.S. for urgent reasons for at least one year
• A survivor of domestic violence or human trafficking, and you have a pending status

Key Information

• Details on how this policy will be implemented in California will be available soon.

Starting July 1, 2027, some Medi-Cal members will need to pay a small monthly fee (called a premium) to keep their full-scope Medi-Cal.

WHO THIS APPLIES TO:

• Please see Immigration Status Categories chart to see if you must pay Monthly Premiums.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW:

• If this change applies to you, you will need to pay a small fee each month to keep your full Medi-Cal.
• If you don’t pay, your Medi-Cal will change.
• You will only get restricted Medi-Cal, which covers:
• Emergency care
• Pregnancy-related care
• Nursing home care

Starting January 1, 2027,some adults will need to work or volunteer or go to school to get to keep Medi-Cal. If this applies to you, the county Medi-Cal office will send you a letter. 

WHO THIS APPLIES TO:

Medi-Cal members and people applying for Medi-Cal who are:

• Adults (age 19-64),
• Are eligible for Medi-Cal because of the Affordable Care Act expansions, and  
• Don’t meet any of the exemptions listed directly below.

EXEMPTIONS:

These new work or volunteer rules do not apply to:

• Children (0–18).
• Older Adults (65 and older).
• Pregnant people, including one year postpartum, regardless of birth outcome.
• Parents with children age 0-13.
• People with disabilities.
• People with serious health or mental health conditions or substance use problems.
• People who were released from jail or prison within the last 90 days.
• People on Medicare Part A or Part B.
• American Indians or Alaska Natives.
• Foster youth or former foster youth age 0-26.

Your county Medi-Cal office will send you a letter to let you know if you must comply with work requirements, or if other information is needed from you to demonstrate that you meet one of these exemptions.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW:

• Members must do one or more of the following:
  • Work at a job and get paid.
    • Earn at least $580 a month from working.
    • Be a seasonal worker (someone who only works during certain times of the year) and make an average of $580 a month over the last six months.
  • Be in a job training program (that helps you learn skills to get a job) for at least 80 hours per month.
  • Volunteer or do community service for at least 80 hours per month. This should be organized and something you can prove you did with a letter or form.
  • Go to school at least half-time. This usually means taking two or three classes or about six to eight credits each semester.
  • Do a mix of the things listed above for a total of at least 80 hours per month, or at least $580 per month.
• If you are required to work or volunteer under these new rules and do not meet the rules, you could lose your Medi-Cal.
• When you get a letter from Medi-Cal, open it right away and respond quickly to show how you are meeting the work rules.
• Medi-Cal will send more information before this rule starts, including ways to help you meet the rules.

Starting January 1, 2027, some Medi-Cal members will have their eligibility checked twice a year instead of once.

WHO THIS APPLIES TO:

Medi-Cal members and people applying for Medi-Cal who are:

• Adults (age 19-64), and
• Don’t have children (age 0-18)

If this applies to you, Medi-Cal will send you a letter.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW:

• You will be asked to renew your Medi-Cal every six months.
• You could lose your coverage if you don’t fill out forms completely or turn them in on time.

Starting January 1, 2027, if you are successfully enrolled into Medi-Cal, Medi-Cal will pay for fewer months of past medical bills from before you applied.

WHO THIS APPLIES TO:

• Adults (age 19-64) without children (0-18)

If this applies to you, Medi-Cal will send you a letter.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW:

• Under the new rule:
  • If you are an adult without children, or a higher-income parent of children (age 0-18), Medi-Cal will only pay for one month of past bills.
  • All others, Medi-Cal will pay up to two months of past bills.

Starting October 1, 2028, some adults on Medi-Cal may have to pay a small fee (called a copayment) for certain health care services. The Department of Health Care Services will provide more information as it becomes available.

WHO THIS APPLIES TO:

Medi-Cal members who:

• Are adults (age 19-64), and
• Are not pregnant, (Pregnancy coverage lasts through your whole pregnancy and up to one year after it ends.) and
• Are not on Medicare, and
• Make more than $15,560 a year.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW:

• You might have to pay a small fee for some health care, like seeing a specialist doctor (like a cardiologist or dermatologist) and getting certain treatments or tests.
• You will not pay more than 5 percent of your household income in copayments each year.
• There will not be copays for:
  • Services at community health centers or rural health clinics.
  • Emergency care.
  • Regular checkups.
  • Prenatal care (care during pregnancy) and pediatric care (care for children).
  • Mental health and substance use disorder treatment.