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?
As of January 1, 2024, Medi-Cal offers full coverage to all eligible Californians, regardless of immigration status. Full-scope Medi-Cal provides access to health care services, including check-ups, mental health and dental care. In order to be eligible for Medi-Cal, you must be physically present in California with the intent to remain in California permanently or indefinitely. If you live in California, please visit the
DHCS Medi-Cal eligibility page to see if you qualify based on your income or other circumstances.
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) or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 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. DHCS has not received confirmation that such sharing occurred, nor do we know what data may have been involved or for what purpose. We are actively seeking answers from our federal partners.
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: June 20, 2025
