Immigration Status and Changes to Medi-Cal Eligibility
Select Your Immigration Category
| Immigration Category | Can apply for full-scope Medi-Cal with full dental benefits (starting January 1, 2026) | Can still get full-scope Medi-Cal, but will only get emergency dental benefits (starting July 1, 2026) | Must pay a premium if enrolled in full-scope Medi-Cal with emergency only dental benefits (age 19-59) (starting July 1, 2027) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth (under 19), regardless of immigration status | Yes | No | No |
| Foster youth and former foster youth (who were in foster care on their 18th birthday, up to age 26), regardless of immigration status | Yes | No | No |
| Pregnant persons (including +365 days postpartum period), regardless of immigration status | Yes | No | No |
| Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR/Green Card holder) subject to the 5-year waiting period and has not met it | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR/Green Card holder) exempt from or has met the 5-year waiting period | Yes | No | No |
| A non-citizen on whose behalf an immediate relative petition (INS Form I-I30) has been approved | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| A non-citizen who has properly filed an application for lawful permanent resident status | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Refugee | Yes | No | No |
| Asylee | Yes | No | No |
| Cuban/Haitian Entrant | Yes | No | No |
| Amerasian Immigrant | Yes | No | No |
| Granted a stay of deportation or removal | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Granted suspension of deportation or removal | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Conditional Entrant (granted before April 1980) | Yes | No | No |
| Paroled into the United States for one year or more, exempt from or has met the 5-year waiting period | Yes | No | No |
| Paroled into the United States for one year or more, subject to and has not met the 5-year waiting period | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Paroled into the United States for less than one year | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battered non-citizen, or parent or child of a battered non-citizen, exempt from or has met the 5-year waiting period | Yes | No | No |
| Battered non-citizen, or parent or child of a battered non-citizen, subject to and has not met the 5-year waiting period | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Granted Deferred Action (including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Granted Order of Supervision | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| An immigrant who entered and has continuously resided in the United States since before January 1, 1972, who would be eligible for an adjustment of status to Lawful Permanent Resident (eligible for Registry) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Granted voluntary departure and awaiting issuance of a visa | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Granted a Victim of Trafficking visa (T visa), or certified by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as a trafficking survivor, or spouse, child, sibling, or parent | Yes | No | No |
| Pending application for a Victim of Trafficking visa (T visa), or taking steps to apply for a T visa or for certification by HHS (including derivative spouse, child, sibling, or parent) | Yes | No | No |
| Granted U visa or U non-immigrant visa (including derivative spouse, child, sibling, or parent) | Yes | No | No |
| Filed for a U visa (including derivative spouse, child, sibling, or parent) | Yes | No | No |
| Granted withholding of deportation or removal | Yes | No | No |
| Citizens of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, or Palau | Yes | No | No |
| PRUCOL Permanently Residing Under Color of Law: a non-citizen, who can show that (1) immigration authorities are aware that they are in the United States; and (2) immigration authorities do not intent to deport or remove them, either because of their status, individual circumstance or a combination of both | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Anyone not a US citizen and not listed above or not claiming to fit within a category above
- Can apply for full-scope Medi-Cal with full dental benefits (starting January 1, 2026)?
- No
- Will continue to be enrolled in full-scope Medi-Cal, but will only be eligible for emergency dental care (starting July 1, 2026)?
- Yes, if retaining full-scope Medi-Cal before January 1, 2026.
- Must pay a premium if enrolled in full-scope Medi-Cal with emergency only dental benefits (age 19-59) (starting July 1, 2027)?
- Yes, if retaining full-scope Medi-Cal before January 1, 2026
Important to Know
- If you already have Medi-Cal, you can stay covered, regardless of your immigration status, as long as you remain eligible. Visit the Medi-Cal changes webpage to learn how you can keep your coverage.
- Children and youth under age 19, pregnant people through one year after a pregnancy ends, and foster children and youth or former foster youth under 26 who were in foster care on their 18th birthday, will still be eligible to apply for full-scope Medi-Cal, regardless of immigration status. If you’re unsure about how these changes affect you, please contact your local Medi-Cal office or call (800) 541-5555 for assistance.
Additional Information
- The California Department of Social Services’ Immigration Services Bureau keeps a list of qualified nonprofit organizations to provide services to immigrants who live in California.
- For more resources, please visit the Immigration and California families webpage.
- Health care consumers may be eligible to receive legal assistance from the Health Consumer Alliance (HCA). Please call the HCA at (888) 804-3536 to be screened for free legal assistance with health-related legal matters, including struggling to get or keep health coverage or fixing problems with a health plan.
You can also visit or contact your local embassy or consulate for further legal assistance.
Disclaimer: The information in the chart below is accurate as of December 30, 2025, and remains valid through September 30, 2026. The chart will be updated in October 2026.