Medi-Cal Program Changes

Starting January 1, 2026, when you apply for or renew your Medi-Cal, we will look at what you own. This is called an asset check. Assets are things you own that have value.

You may be affected if you:

• Are age 65 and older and meet the household income limit for Medi-Cal
• Have a disability (physical, mental, or developmental)
• Live in a nursing home
• Are in a family that makes too much money to qualify under federal tax rules.

Important to Know:

• The most countable assets you can own (asset limit) is $130,000 for one person.
  • Many items don’t count, such as the home you live in, one car, household items, and some retirement accounts
• You can add $65,000 for every extra person in your family. The maximum is 10 people.

• If you have Medi-Cal, beginning 1/1/2026 we will look at your assets every year when you renew

To read more about which assets are countable for Medi-Cal, go to the Medi-Cal General Property Limits MC Information Notice 007.

To read a full description of these changes, go to the DHCS Medical Changes website for information.

Recent Medi-Cal Expansion efforts have allowed anyone eligible for Medi-Cal to receive full-scope benefits, regardless of immigration status. The freeze of most of these expansion efforts takes place January 1, 2026.

Starting January 1, 2026, new Medi-Cal eligible applicants who are 19 years of age and older, who are not pregnant, and who do not have Satisfactory Immigration Status eligible for full scope Medi-Cal will be eligible for restricted scope Medi-Cal. Restricted scope Medi-Cal covers emergency and pregnancy-related services.

New Medi-Cal eligible applicants who are under 19 years of age and apply on or after January 1, 2026, remain eligible for full scope Medi-Cal.

Keep Your Medi-Cal: If you applied and were eligible for Medi-Cal prior to January 1, 2026, you can stay covered no matter your immigration status. However, you must still meet the Medi-Cal rules and complete your renewals in time to keep your Medi-Cal.

Beginning July 1, 2026, Medi-Cal will no longer cover dental services, except in emergency situations, for Californians 19 years of age or older who are not pregnant, and do not have satisfactory immigration status. This coverage is referred to as full scope Medi-Cal with no Dental. You may continue to use dental services until this change happens.

To read a full description of these, and more changes coming in 2027, go to the DHCS Medi-Cal Changes website for information.

To see how or if you will be affected by these changes, go to the DHCS Immigration Status Categories chart.