California Medi-Cal 2026: Who Qualifies, How to Apply

Medi-Cal is public health coverage, not a grant, and the county never charges to apply. For every household size, see our California Medi-Cal income limits guide.

Medi-Cal at a Glance (November 2026)

California has 58 counties, and each county office runs Medi-Cal cases under DHCS rules. Here's the system as DHCS described it on November 13, 2026:

Grantsights analysis of the DHCS chart shows the adult line rises by $7,839 a year for each added person, so a family of three in Sacramento earning $3,100 a month ($37,200 a year) sits $502 under its $37,702 limit, while the same family earning $3,200 a month is over it and should look at Covered California help instead.

Who Qualifies for Medi-Cal in 2026

Income is the main test for most Californians. Adults 19 to 64 need household income at or below 138% of poverty under federal MAGI rules, which count income before taxes and follow your tax household. Other routes:

• Children 0 to 18 get full-scope Medi-Cal at higher income levels, and immigration status doesn't matter for them.
• Pregnant people get full-scope Medi-Cal during pregnancy and for 365 days after it ends, regardless of status.
• Former foster youth under 26 who were in foster care on their 18th birthday keep full-scope coverage.
• Adults 65 and older and people with disabilities qualify through non-MAGI rules, which include the asset test.

The asset limit is back. According to DHCS's Medi-Cal Changes page, since January 1, 2026 a person 65 or older, a person with a disability, a nursing home resident, or a family too high-income for the MAGI rules can own at most $130,000 in countable assets, plus $65,000 for each extra household member up to 10 people. Your home, one vehicle, household items and some retirement savings don't count. The 2026-27 Budget Act goes further: it lowers the limit to $21,000 for one person and $31,000 for a couple, effective no sooner than July 1, 2027.

For a comparison with other states, see the national Medicaid income limits guide.

The Immigration Changes: Freeze, Fee-for-Service, Dental and Premiums

California covered adults regardless of immigration status for several years, and 4 changes now narrow that. DHCS's chart and Changes page set them out by date:

Key details from DHCS:

• Keeping coverage under the freeze: if you already have full-scope Medi-Cal, you keep it "no matter your immigration status," as long as you renew on time. If it ends, you have three months to sign up again; after that, only restricted-scope Medi-Cal (emergency, pregnancy and nursing home care) is open to you.
• Fee-for-Service isn't a bill. DHCS says Medi-Cal still pays; you just see any doctor or clinic that takes Fee-for-Service Medi-Cal instead of a plan's network. Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports, which exist only in health plans, won't continue.
• The premium amount isn't final. DHCS's immigrant FAQ says $30 a month from July 1, 2027. The 2026-27 Budget Act highlights describe raising it to $50, "subject to a determination in the 2027-28 May Revision." If you don't pay, coverage drops to restricted scope.
• Who never pays the premium: children, pregnant people (through one year after), and former foster youth under 26.

Two DHCS pages don't match on one point. The Changes page says refugees, asylees, humanitarian parolees and some survivors move to pregnancy and emergency care only on July 1, 2027, while the immigration chart shows asylees and parolees of a year or more keeping full Medi-Cal with a premium. If you're in one of these groups, ask your county office in writing which rule applies, and contact the Health Consumer Alliance at 1-888-804-3536 for free legal help.

What Medi-Cal Covers

DHCS's benefits page lists adult coverage in 11 groups: doctor care, dental and vision, medications (up to a 100-day supply of many drugs), emergency care, lab tests and imaging, hospital care, rehab (including acupuncture), mental health and addiction services, non-emergency rides, wellness care and, for pregnancy, prenatal, delivery, midwife and doula services.

Adult dental and vision are broad in California, per the DHCS benefits list: exams, X-rays, cleanings, fillings, crowns, root canals, dentures and implants, plus eye exams, glasses and contacts. Dental runs through Medi-Cal Dental (1-800-322-6384), and prescriptions go through Medi-Cal Rx (1-800-977-2273) whatever plan you're in.

Health plans: per the DHCS Use Your Medi-Cal page, approved members "might need to join a Medi-Cal health plan," and DHCS mails plan choices and sign-up details after approval. Which plans you can choose depends on your county.

Extra services: DHCS also lists housing help, recovery stays after a hospital discharge, in-home care, healthy food with nutrition coaching and help for older adults leaving a nursing home. Ask your health plan which of these it offers.

Copays: most members pay none today. DHCS says that starting October 1, 2028, some adults 19 to 64 who aren't pregnant or on Medicare and earn above the poverty line may owe copays for services such as specialist visits, capped at 5% of household income a year, with no copays at community health centers, for emergencies, checkups, pregnancy, children or mental health and substance use care.

How to Apply for Medi-Cal, Step by Step

Per the DHCS apply page, there are 4 routes to sign up, and every one leads to your county Medi-Cal office. Here's what works for most applicants in Los Angeles, Fresno, San Diego or a rural county.

Step 1: Gather what the county will ask for

Have each person's name, birth date and Social Security number (if they have one), proof of income such as pay stubs, any current health insurance, and immigration documents for anyone applying who isn't a citizen. Older adults and people with disabilities should also have bank statements and property records ready for the asset test.

Step 2: Choose how to apply

Step 3: Respond to the county

The county may contact you for more information, so answer quickly. Once you're covered, DHCS's Keep page says to report changes within 10 days.

Step 4: Get your Notice of Action and BIC card

DHCS's Use page says review may take up to 45 days, matching the federal rule in 42 CFR 435.912 (opens in a new tab), which allows 90 days for disability-based applications. You'll get a Notice of Action letter either way. If approved, a Benefits Identification Card (BIC) comes in the mail, and DHCS says you can use Medi-Cal right away.

For example, one applicant in Fresno, a 52-year-old citizen who drives for a farm supply company and earns $1,750 a month ($21,000 a year), is under DHCS's $22,025 line for one person. He'd qualify for full-scope Medi-Cal with no premium, get a BIC card, pick a health plan offered in Fresno County, and from 2027 would meet the work rule through his earnings, which are well above $580 a month (an illustration built from DHCS's figures, not a real case).

Old Bills, Renewals and the 2027 Work Rule

Medi-Cal changes in 2027 come in 3 steps: shorter retroactive coverage and work rules on January 1, then six-month renewals on March 1.

Retroactive coverage

Medi-Cal can still pay bills from up to 3 months before you apply. DHCS says that from January 1, 2027, adults 19 to 64 without children 0 to 18 get one month of past bills paid, and everyone else gets two months. Your best bet, if you've got unpaid medical bills from September, October or November 2026, is to apply in December.

Six-month renewals from March 1, 2027

Renewals happen once a year today, and DHCS's Keep page says many members get an auto-renewal letter and don't need to do anything. Starting March 1, 2027, DHCS says adults 19 to 64 who qualify by income will be checked twice a year. Pregnant and postpartum members, American Indian and Alaska Native members, former foster youth under 26 and people outside the adult group keep yearly renewals. CMS's April 2026 slides on section 71107 (opens in a new tab) set out the federal rule.

Work rules from January 1, 2027

According to the DHCS Medi-Cal Changes page, the rule applies to adults 19 to 64 who get Medi-Cal because of their income, "including some adults covered under the new rules for immigrants." It follows the federal interim final rule published June 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab). Members must do one or more of these:

• Earn at least $580 a month at a job
• As a seasonal worker, average $580 a month over the last six months
• Spend 80 hours a month in job training, volunteering or community service
• Go to school at least half-time (about six to eight credits a semester)
• Mix activities to reach 80 hours or $580

Exempt: children; adults 65 and older; pregnant people and those within a year after; parents and caregivers of children 13 and younger; people with disabilities or serious physical or mental health conditions or substance use problems; people released from jail or prison in the last 90 days; people on Medicare Part A or B; American Indians and Alaska Natives; and former foster youth under 26. Your county office will tell you whether the rule applies or whether it needs proof of an exemption.

The DHCS 2026-27 Budget Act highlights project 43,000 disenrollments from the work rule in 2026-27, rising to 1.1 million by 2029-30, so watch your mail closely.

What DHCS Doesn't Tell You About Medi-Cal

DHCS's pages are clear but spread out, and 6 points are easy to miss:

1. The three-month window matters under the freeze. A UIS adult who misses a renewal has three months to get back on full-scope coverage; after that, the freeze locks them out of full-scope Medi-Cal.
2. Retroactive rules hinge on children. DHCS frames the one-month limit around adults "without children ages 0-18," so a parent applying in 2027 can still get two months of old bills covered.
3. The asset limit may drop by about 84%. From $130,000 to $21,000 for one person, effective no sooner than July 1, 2027, under the Budget Act.
4. Fee-for-Service can shrink your doctor list. Not every clinic takes Fee-for-Service Medi-Cal, so ask your current doctor before January 2027.
5. Premium amounts can change before they start. Budget for $30 to $50 a month per covered adult, since the 2027-28 May Revision sets the final figure.
6. The copay income line on DHCS's page looks off. It says copays apply to adults making more than $15,560 a year, which is below the 2026 federal poverty guideline of $15,960; expect DHCS to update it before October 2028.

Common Mistakes and Red Flags

A common mistake is ignoring a renewal packet because you assumed coverage renews automatically. Many California members do get auto-renewal letters, but a renewal form means the county needs answers, and from March 2027 adults will see one every 6 months. Check your due date on BenefitsCal and keep your mailing address, phone and email current.

Other mistakes that cost Californians coverage:

• Not reporting changes within 10 days. A new job, a move or a new baby can change your group or your premium status.
• Underestimating exemptions. Parents of a child 13 or younger don't need to log hours, but the county may ask for proof.
• Applying for the wrong program. A pregnant applicant with unsatisfactory immigration status can still get full-scope Medi-Cal; she should report the pregnancy instead of assuming the freeze blocks her.
• Letting coverage lapse past three months under the freeze. Re-enrolling within the window keeps full scope; missing it doesn't.

Red flags: applying is free. Avoid anyone who charges to "file" a Medi-Cal application, asks for gift cards, or says paying them will get around the freeze. Real applications go through BenefitsCal, Covered California, a county office or the DHCS paper form. If you're worried about how your information is used, DHCS's immigration page links to its explanation of how Medi-Cal protects your privacy.

Other Help in California

Medi-Cal covers health care. Food, energy and rent help come from other programs; CalFresh, for example, pays up to $808 a month to a household of three from October 1, 2026, and many Medi-Cal households qualify:

• Food: our CalFresh guide explains California's version of food stamps, which you can apply for on the same BenefitsCal account.
• Pregnancy and young children: see our California WIC income limits guide and the national WIC income limits guide.
• Energy bills: our California LIHEAP guide covers utility help.
• Rent: California renters behind on payments can start with our rental assistance programs guide.

Curious what else a California household could get? The Grantsights eligibility checker maps official programs in your state at no cost; only your county Medi-Cal office can approve Medi-Cal itself.

FAQ: California Medi-Cal

How do I apply for Medi-Cal?

On BenefitsCal or Covered California, by phone or in person at your county office, or by mailing the DHCS paper application.

Who qualifies for Medi-Cal in 2026?

Adults 19 to 64 up to $22,025 a year for one person, plus children, pregnant people, older adults and people with disabilities through their own rules.

Can undocumented adults still sign up for Medi-Cal?

Not for new full-scope coverage since January 1, 2026, unless pregnant or a former foster youth under 26; current members can keep it by renewing on time.

When do Medi-Cal work requirements start?

January 1, 2027, for adults 19 to 64 covered by income: $580 a month in earnings or 80 hours of qualifying activity.

How long does a Medi-Cal application take?

Up to 45 days according to DHCS, or up to 90 days when the application is based on a disability.

Will Medi-Cal members pay premiums in 2027?

Some immigrant adults 19 to 59 will, from July 1, 2027: $30 a month under DHCS's FAQ, possibly up to $50 under the 2026-27 budget.

Does Medi-Cal cover dental for adults?

Yes, including crowns, root canals, dentures and implants; UIS adults move to emergency-only dental on July 1, 2027.

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Sources

1. DHCS: Medi-Cal Changes (opens in a new tab), checked November 13, 2026
2. DHCS: Immigration Status and Medi-Cal Changes (opens in a new tab), accurate as of August 2026
3. DHCS: Medi-Cal Immigrant Eligibility FAQs (opens in a new tab), checked November 13, 2026
4. DHCS: Apply for Medi-Cal (opens in a new tab), checked November 13, 2026
5. DHCS: Medi-Cal Benefits (opens in a new tab), checked November 13, 2026
6. DHCS: Use Your Medi-Cal (opens in a new tab) and Keep Your Medi-Cal (opens in a new tab), checked November 13, 2026
7. DHCS: Medi-Cal contact numbers (opens in a new tab), checked November 13, 2026
8. DHCS: Eligibility by Federal Poverty Level (138%) (opens in a new tab), checked November 13, 2026
9. DHCS: 2026-27 Budget Act Highlights (opens in a new tab), July 1, 2026
10. CMS: section 71107 renewal slides (opens in a new tab)
11. Federal Register: community engagement interim rule (opens in a new tab)
12. eCFR: 42 CFR 435.912 (opens in a new tab)