Medi-Cal Immigrant Eligibility FAQs
Below you will find frequently asked questions about Medi-Cal, California’s version of the federal Medicaid program that offers free or low-cost health care coverage to eligible people residing in California. If you do not find an answer to your question, you may contact your
local county office (by phone or in person) or email
Medi-Cal member support to get help in your preferred language.
Who is eligible for full coverage Medi-Cal?
To be eligible for Medi-Cal, you must live in California and either be income eligible or meet one of the other qualifying requirements. Visit the
Medi-Cal website to see if you qualify based on income or other circumstances.
- Children (0–18 years old) can get full Medi-Cal coverage, no matter their immigration status.
- Adults (19 and older) are currently eligible for full Medi-Cal coverage, regardless of immigration status.
- Starting on January 1, 2026, adults who do not have Satisfactory Immigration Status (SIS) will no longer be able to enroll in full Medi-Cal. If you already have coverage, you can keep it; just make sure to renew your coverage during your renewal month.
- Also starting on July 1, 2026, Medi-Cal dental benefits will no longer be available for Medi-Cal members who are 19 or older, not pregnant, and have Unsatisfactory Immigration Status. Emergency dental care (such as treatment for severe pain, infection, and pulling a tooth) will still be covered for everyone, no matter their immigration status. Children (ages 0–18) and people who are pregnant will still have dental care benefits, no matter their immigration status.
- Beginning on July 1, 2027, Medi-Cal members who are ages 19 to 59, not pregnant, and undocumented or have Unsatisfactory Immigration Status and remain in full coverage Medi-Cal will be required to pay a monthly $30 premium to keep their Medi-Cal coverage.
- Pregnant people and their infants are eligible for full coverage Medi-Cal during pregnancy and for one year after the birth outcome (including miscarriage or termination of the pregnancy), regardless of immigration status.
Everyone who qualifies based on income, regardless of immigration status, can get:
- Emergency Medi-Cal, such as treatment required to address serious medical emergencies that require immediate care.
- Emergency dental care, such as treatment for severe pain, infection, or tooth removal.
What type of information does the state report to CMS?
As required by federal law, DHCS submits demographic and eligibility information, such as name, address, date of birth, Medicaid ID, Social Security number (if provided), and immigration status, for every Medi-Cal member. DHCS also provides Information about health services received, claims processing, and program funding. Data submitted to CMS is considered sensitive and confidential. CMS is legally required to protect the confidentiality and security of Medicaid data.
It was recently reported that CMS shared Medi-Cal member information with the Department of Homeland Security, is this true?
In June 2025, DHCS became aware of reports that the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) may have shared the personal data of Medi-Cal members with the Department of Homeland Security. Upon learning of these reports, DHCS reached out to CMS requesting information to confirm whether this occurred and on exactly what data was shared, to which agencies, and why.
In late July 2025, DHCS was informed that the federal CMS signed an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security that allows Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to access Medicaid member information, including name, address, and other personal information. The agreement provides ICE with access to the data from July 9 through September 9, 2026.
Additionally, on August 12, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Department of Homeland Security from using Medicaid data for immigration enforcement and preventing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from sharing that data for this purpose. California is part of the
multistate lawsuit that led to this injunction, which will remain in effect until the agencies complete a reasoned decision-making process or the case concludes.
We take any misuse of Medi-Cal data seriously. Any unauthorized use or disclosure is potentially unlawful and is a grave breach of trust, especially with immigrant families. California joined other states to file a lawsuit about this issue, more information can be found here. Is full-scope Medi-Cal considered in the public charge test?
No. As of June 2025, Medi-Cal is NOT considered in a public charge determination. The only exception is if you are entering the U.S. or applying for lawful permanent residence (LPR) status and you are receiving nursing home or other long-term institutionalized care. The Department will update this answer if there are any changes.
Please note that DHCS and county social services agencies cannot provide legal services or advice about your privacy, immigration status, or public charge laws. If you have questions about your immigration status and/or Medi-Cal benefits, talk to a qualified immigration lawyer. The California Department of Social Services’ Immigration Services Bureau keeps a list of
qualified nonprofit organizations to provide immigration-related services to Californians.
To learn more about public charge, please refer to the California Health & Human Services Agency
Public Charge Guide. Learn about public charge in other languages:
Arabic,
Armenian,
Chinese,
English,
Farsi,
Hindi,
Hmong,
Japanese,
Khmer,
Korean,
Lao,
Mien,
Pashto,
Portuguese,
Punjabi,
Russian,
Spanish,
Tagalog,
Thai,
Ukrainian, and
Vietnamese.
What if I have questions about Medi-Cal and my immigration status?
The California Department of Social Services’ Immigration Services Bureau keeps a list of
qualified nonprofit organizations to provide services to immigrants who reside in California.
Other resources available include:
- For more information about the Medi-Cal program and how to apply, translated into California’s threshold languages (languages other than English spoken by a significant portion of Californians) please visit my Medi-Cal.
- For more resources, please visit the Immigration and California families webpage.
- For more information on public charge and public benefits, like Medi-Cal, please visit KeepYourBenefits.
- Health care consumers may be eligible to receive legal assistance from the Health Consumer Alliance (HCA). Please call the HCA at 1-888-804-3536 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 and resources.
Last Updated: August 18, 2025
