Medi-Cal Dental Benefit Changes

Back to Medi-Cal Dental Program

Starting on July 1, 2026, Medi-Cal will stop covering dental services for some adult members, except for emergencies. This change is based on immigration status. The change only affects Medi-Cal members who are aged 19 and older and do not qualify for federal full-scope Medi-Cal.

To find out if the change applies to you, read the Immigration Status Chart at: DHCS - Immigration Status Categories

You will keep full-scope Medi-Cal with dental benefits regardless of your immigration status if:

You are pregnant or in the first year after your pregnancy ends, or

You are under age 19, or

You are under age 26 and were in foster care on your 18th birthday

If you are currently enrolled in a Medi-Cal Dental Plan (Dental Managed Care Plan), you will either:

Stay enrolled in your Dental Managed Care Plan if you are under 19, or
Move to the Medi-Cal Dental Program (fee-for-service) for your full dental benefits if you are:

Pregnant or one-year postpartum (after pregnancy), and/or
A foster child/youth or former foster youth under age 26 who was in foster care on your 18th birthday

Emergency Dental Services:

For adults aged 19 and older who do not qualify for federal full-scope Medi-Cal, emergency dental services will continue to be covered. Covered emergency dental services are those treatments needed right away to stop severe pain or to diagnose and treat sudden serious medical problems. This includes care for: 

Bleeding that does not stop 
Painful swelling in or around your mouth 
A toothache or jaw pain 
Injuries to your face or jawbone 
Infection in your gums or teeth with pain or swelling 
After surgery care (such as bandage changes or stitch removal) 
A broken or knocked-out tooth 
Cutting or fixing wires in braces that hurt your cheeks or gums

The following Current Dental Terminology (CDT) Codes are identified emergency dental procedures:

D0220, D0230, D0250, D0330, D0502, D0999, D2920, D2940, D2941, D3220, D3221, D6092, D6093, D6930, D7111, D7140, D7210, D7220, D7230, D7240, D7241, D7250, D7251, D7260, D7261, D7270, D7285, D7286, D7410, D7411, D7412, D7413, D7414, D7415, D7440, D7441, D7450, D7451, D7460, D7461, D7490, D7510, D7511, D7520, D7521, D7530, D7540, D7550, D7560, D7610, D7620, D7630, D7640, D7650, D7660, D7670, D7671, D7710, D7720, D7730, D7740, D7750, D7760, D7770, D7771, D7810, D7820, D7830, D7910, D7911, D7912, D7979, D7980, D7983, D7990, D9110, D9210, D9222, D9223, D9230, D9239, D9243, D9248, D9410, D9420, D9430, D9440, D9610, D9910, D9920, D9930, D9951

To learn more about Dental Emergency services, go to: Smile, California - Dental Emergency Information.

For answers to questions about which immigration statuses the changes affect, read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) found in the resources below.

Member Notices

Beginning April 2026, DHCS will mail notices to affected members notifying them of the forthcoming changes in the way they can obtain dental services.

60-Day / 30-Day Member Notice [English]