Immigration Status and Changes to Medi-Cal Eligibility
Find Your Immigration Status
Learn how Medi-Cal changes may affect you.
| Immigration Status or Population | Catagory | 2026-01-01 | 2027-01-01 | 2027-07-01 | 2027-07-01 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Citizens, including Naturalized Citizens | US Citizens | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Keep Managed Care Plan | Keep full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Don’t pay premium |
| Pregnant persons (including +365 days after pregnancy ends) who are lawfully residing | Pregnant/Postpartum | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Keep Managed Care Plan | Keep full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Don’t pay premium |
| Pregnant persons (including +365 days after pregnancy ends) who are not lawfully residing | Pregnant/Postpartum | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Move to Fee-for-Service | Age 19 and older: Keep full Medi-Cal and move to emergency only dental | Don’t pay premium |
| Youth (under 21) who are lawfully residing | Children and Youth | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Keep Managed Care Plan | Keep full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Don’t pay premium |
| Youth (under 19) who are not lawfully residing | Children and Youth | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Move to Fee-for-Service | Keep full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Don’t pay premium |
| Foster youth and former foster youth up to age 26 (if in care on 18th birthday), unless LPR, COFA resident, or Cuban or Haitian entrant | Children and Youth | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Move to Fee-for-Service | Keep full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Don’t pay premium |
| LPR who completed the 5-year waiting period or exempt | Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card) | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Keep Managed Care Plan | Keep full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Don’t pay premium |
| LPR subject to the 5-year waiting period | Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card) | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Move to Fee-for-Service | Age 19 and older: Keep full Medi-Cal and move to emergency only dental | Age 19-59: Must pay premium to keep Medi-Cal |
| Citizens of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, or Palau | COFA Resident | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Keep Managed Care Plan | No, keep full dental | No premium required |
| Refugee, Asylee, Granted Withholding of Removal or Deportation, or Conditional entrant (before 1980) | Humanitarian Protections | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Move to Fee-for-Service | Age 19 and older: Keep full Medi-Cal and move to emergency only dental | Age 19-59: Must pay premium to keep Medi-Cal |
| Paroled into the United States for one year or more | Humanitarian Protections | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Move to Fee-for-Service | Age 19 and older: Keep full Medi-Cal and move to emergency only dental | Age 19-59: Must pay premium to keep Medi-Cal |
| Cuban or Haitian Entrant | Humanitarian Protections | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Keep Managed Care Plan | No, keep full dental | No premium required |
| Domestic violence survivor considered “battered immigrant” (I-130 or VAWA) | Survivors of Domestic Violence, Trafficking, Serious Crimes | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Move to Fee-for-Service | Age 19 and older: Keep full Medi-Cal and move to emergency only dental | Age 19-59: Must pay premium to keep Medi-Cal |
| Granted T visa or certified trafficking survivor (and close family) | Survivors of Domestic Violence, Trafficking, Serious Crimes | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Move to Fee-for-Service | Age 19 and older: Keep full Medi-Cal and move to emergency only dental | Age 19-59: Must pay premium to keep Medi-Cal |
| Trafficking survivor preparing to or have filed a T visa application (and close family) | Survivors of Domestic Violence, Trafficking, Serious Crimes | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Move to Fee-for-Service | Age 19 and older: Keep full Medi-Cal and move to emergency only dental | Age 19-59: Must pay premium to keep Medi-Cal |
| Applied for or granted U visa (and close family) | Survivors of Domestic Violence, Trafficking, Serious Crimes | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Move to Fee-for-Service | Age 19 and older: Keep full Medi-Cal and move to emergency only dental | Age 19-59: Must pay premium to keep Medi-Cal |
| Filed application for green card (I-485) | Permanently Residing Under Color of Law (PRUCOL) | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Move to Fee-for-Service | Age 19 and older: Keep full Medi-Cal and move to emergency only dental | Age 19-59: Must pay premium to keep Medi-Cal |
| Family petition approved (I-130) (spouse, child, or parent of US citizen) | Permanently Residing Under Color of Law (PRUCOL) | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Move to Fee-for-Service | Age 19 and older: Keep full Medi-Cal and move to emergency only dental | Age 19-59: Must pay premium to keep Medi-Cal |
| Lived in US since before 1972 (eligible for Registry) | Permanently Residing Under Color of Law (PRUCOL) | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Move to Fee-for-Service | Age 19 and older: Keep full Medi-Cal and move to emergency only dental | Age 19-59: Must pay premium to keep Medi-Cal |
| Granted suspension of deportation or cancellation of removal) | Permanently Residing Under Color of Law (PRUCOL) | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Move to Fee-for-Service | Age 19 and older: Keep full Medi-Cal and move to emergency only dental | Age 19-59: Must pay premium to keep Medi-Cal |
| Granted stay of deportation or removal | Permanently Residing Under Color of Law (PRUCOL) | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Move to Fee-for-Service | Age 19 and older: Keep full Medi-Cal and move to emergency only dental | Age 19-59: Must pay premium to keep Medi-Cal |
| Deferred action (includes DACA) | Permanently Residing Under Color of Law (PRUCOL) | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Move to Fee-for-Service | Age 19 and older: Keep full Medi-Cal and move to emergency only dental | Age 19-59: Must pay premium to keep Medi-Cal |
| Order of Supervision | Permanently Residing Under Color of Law (PRUCOL) | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Move to Fee-for-Service | Age 19 and older: Keep full Medi-Cal and move to emergency only dental | Age 19-59: Must pay premium to keep Medi-Cal |
| Granted voluntary departure | Permanently Residing Under Color of Law (PRUCOL) | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Move to Fee-for-Service | Age 19 and older: Keep full Medi-Cal and move to emergency only dental | Age 19-59: Must pay premium to keep Medi-Cal |
| Paroled into the United States for less than one year | Permanently Residing Under Color of Law (PRUCOL) | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Move to Fee-for-Service | Age 19 and older: Keep full Medi-Cal and move to emergency only dental | Age 19-59: Must pay premium to keep Medi-Cal |
| Immigration knows you are in US but does not have plans to deport you because of your immigration status, individual situation, or a combination of these | Permanently Residing Under Color of Law (PRUCOL) | Full Medi-Cal + full Dental | Move to Fee-for-Service | Age 19 and older: Keep full Medi-Cal and move to emergency only dental | Age 19-59: Must pay premium to keep Medi-Cal |
Refugees, Asylees, T Visas, OTIP
Some people who are new to the United States — including refugees, people who just got asylum, and trafficking survivors with a T visa or an OTIP letter (Office of Trafficking in Persons) — may get help from the Refugee Medical Assistance program (RMA). RMA can give health coverage if they cannot get federally funded Medi‑Cal.
If Your Immigration Status is Not Listed
- Adults age 19-59 (including undocumented adults):
- If you had full Medi‑Cal by January 1, 2026, you can keep it.
- Starting July 1, 2027:
- You keep Medi‑Cal, but dental care is for emergencies only.
- You must pay a premium.
- Foster youth and former foster youth do not pay premiums.
- Adults age 60+ (including undocumented adults):
- If you had full Medi‑Cal by January 1, 2026, you can keep it.
- Starting July 1, 2027:
- You keep Medi‑Cal, but dental care is for emergencies only.
- You do not pay premiums.
Important Notes
- If you already have Medi‑Cal, you can keep it as long as you still qualify. You immigration status does not matter. Visit the Medi‑Cal changes webpage to learn how to keep your coverage.
- No matter your immigration status, you can still apply for full Medi-Cal if you are:
- A child under 19 years old
- Pregnant (and for one year after)
- Under 26 years old and were in foster care at 18 years old
Helpful Resources
- Need help, contact your local Medi‑Cal office or call (800) 541‑5555.
- Learn how Medi‑Cal protects your privacy and information.
- Find trusted groups in California that help immigrants.
- Get more help on the Immigration and California Families webpage.
- You may get free legal help from the Health Consumer Alliance. Call (888) 804‑3536.
- You can also ask your local embassy or consulate for legal help.
Disclaimer: The information in the chart above is accurate as of August 2026 and remains valid through June 30, 2027. The chart will be updated in July 2027.