Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program. It provides free or low-cost health coverage to more than a third of all Californians, including doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, mental health services, and long-term care. For readers of IHSS Connect, Medi-Cal matters for one more reason: you must be eligible for Medi-Cal to receive In-Home Supportive Services. If you or someone you care for is thinking about IHSS, a Medi-Cal application is the first step.
This guide covers who qualifies in 2026, what changed this year, and every way to apply. There is no enrollment deadline or open-enrollment window for Medi-Cal. You can apply any day of the year.
Who Is Eligible for Medi-Cal?
For most people, Medi-Cal eligibility comes down to income. California compares your household’s income to the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), and different groups qualify at different income levels. For these income-based (“MAGI”) categories — most adults under 65, children, and pregnant people — there is no asset test. Savings, a car, or a home do not count against you.
Using the state’s 2026 figures, the main income limits are:
- Adults ages 19–64: up to 138% of the FPL — about $1,836 a month for a single person, or $3,795 a month for a family of four.
- Children ages 0–18: up to 266% of the FPL — about $7,315 a month ($87,780 a year) for a family of four.
- Pregnant people: up to 213% of the FPL for full Medi-Cal, and up to 322% for pregnancy coverage through the Medi-Cal Access Program (MCAP).
Some groups qualify through other doors. People who receive SSI/SSP are enrolled in Medi-Cal automatically. Former foster youth qualify until age 26 regardless of income. And Californians who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled can qualify through “non-MAGI” programs such as the Aged and Disabled program, which use different income-counting rules — and, as of this year, an asset limit (more on that below). If your income is over the limit, don’t rule yourself out: programs like Share of Cost Medi-Cal and the 250% Working Disabled Program exist precisely for people in that gap, and the county must screen you for every pathway when you apply.
2026 Medi-Cal monthly income limits, by household size
| Household size | Adults 19–64 (138% FPL) | Pregnant people (213% FPL) | Children 0–18 (266% FPL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,836 | $2,833 | $3,538 |
| 2 | $2,490 | $3,843 | $4,799 |
| 3 | $3,143 | $4,851 | $6,057 |
| 4 | $3,795 | $5,858 | $7,315 |
| 5 | $4,450 | $6,868 | $8,576 |
| 6 | $5,102 | $7,875 | $9,835 |
| Each additional person | +$655 | +$1,010 | +$1,261 |
Source: DHCS 2026 limits (ACWDL 26-01), as published in Covered California's 2026 Program Eligibility by FPL chart. Gross monthly figures; Medi-Cal counts income using tax (MAGI) rules for these categories. Pregnant people over 213% FPL may qualify for MCAP up to 322% FPL.
⚠️ What changed in 2026 — read this before you apply
The asset limit is back for some programs. Since January 1, 2026, Medi-Cal programs for people who are 65+, blind, or disabled (including long-term care and Medicare Savings Programs) again have an asset limit: $130,000 for one person, plus $65,000 for each additional household member. Your primary home, one vehicle, and retirement accounts in payout status are among the assets that don't count — and assets transferred during 2024–2025, when no limit existed, are not counted against you. Income-based Medi-Cal for adults under 65, children, and pregnant people still has no asset test. Heads up for planning: under the state budget agreement reached in June 2026, this limit is scheduled to drop sharply — to $21,000 for a single person — in the 2027–28 budget year. (The governor had proposed $2,000; the Legislature rejected that figure.) The exact start date hasn't been announced and a future budget could change it, but if your assets are near the limit, applying sooner matters.
New enrollment paused for some immigrant adults. Also since January 1, 2026, adults 19+ without satisfactory immigration status who apply for the first time can receive restricted-scope Medi-Cal (emergency, pregnancy-related, and long-term care services) rather than full coverage. This is a freeze on new enrollment, not a termination: adults already enrolled keep full coverage as long as they complete their annual renewal on time. Children under 19 and pregnant people are not affected and remain eligible for full Medi-Cal regardless of immigration status. Separately, as of July 2026, full dental benefits ended for many adult enrollees without satisfactory immigration status.
Medi-Cal for Adults
If you are 19 to 64, you qualify for full Medi-Cal if your household income is at or below 138% of the FPL — in 2026, roughly $22,025 a year for one person or $45,540 for a family of four. There is no asset test for this group, you do not need to have children, and you do not need a disability. Income is counted using tax rules (adjusted gross income), so things like SSI and child support are not counted.
If you are 65 or older, or you are blind or have a disability at any age, you can qualify through the Aged and Disabled program. Its income limit is similar, but income is counted differently and the reinstated asset limit described above applies. Because the math has real nuances — income deductions, spousal rules, exempt assets — it is worth applying and letting the county do the calculation, or getting free help from an advocate, rather than assuming you are over the limit. This is also the group most IHSS recipients fall into: once your Medi-Cal is approved, you can contact your county IHSS office to apply for in-home care.
The asset limit, on a timeline
- 2024–2025: no asset limit at all. Transfers made in these two years are never penalized.
- Since Jan 1, 2026: $130,000 for one person; $195,000 for a couple; +$65,000 per additional household member. Spousal protections can raise a couple's total (the at-home spouse may keep up to $162,660 in 2026).
- Scheduled for 2027–28: drops to $21,000 for one person under the June 2026 budget agreement. Start date not yet announced; a future budget could change it. If you're near the limit, apply now.
These never count toward the limit:
- The home you live in
- One vehicle
- Household goods, personal effects, and jewelry
- IRAs and pensions paying out regular distributions
- Term life insurance, burial plots, prepaid irrevocable burial plans, and up to $1,500 in designated burial funds
Medi-Cal for Children
California is far more generous with children’s coverage. Kids from birth through age 18 qualify with household income up to 266% of the FPL — about $87,780 a year for a family of four. There are no monthly premiums for children’s Medi-Cal, and children qualify for full coverage regardless of immigration status. The 2026 enrollment freeze for adults does not apply to anyone under 19.
Two things parents often miss: first, children can qualify even when their parents earn too much for adult Medi-Cal, so it’s worth applying for your kids even if you were denied yourself. Second, one application covers the whole family — the county checks every member against every program, so parents may be routed to Covered California with financial help while the children are enrolled in Medi-Cal. Families in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties with income just above the Medi-Cal cutoff (up to 322% FPL) may also qualify for the County Children’s Health Initiative Program (CCHIP).
Three things about kids' Medi-Cal most parents don't know
- Newborns are covered automatically. A baby born to a parent on Medi-Cal is automatically eligible through their first birthday — no separate application needed, though you should report the birth to the county so the baby gets their own number.
- It's more than doctor visits. Children's Medi-Cal includes regular checkups and screenings (the EPSDT benefit), dental care through Medi-Cal Dental, vision exams and glasses, and mental and behavioral health services — and under EPSDT, the program must cover any medically necessary treatment a screening turns up.
- Applying for your child is safe. The application only asks about immigration status for the people actually requesting coverage. Parents applying for their children are not required to provide their own status. (Families with immigration concerns about health data can get free, confidential advice from the Health Consumer Alliance at (888) 804-3536 before applying.)
Four Ways to Apply
You can apply online, by phone, by mail, or in person. Whichever route you choose, it is one application — the Single Streamlined Application — and the county must screen your whole household for every health program.
🖥️ Online: BenefitsCal
California's official benefits portal. Apply for Medi-Cal (and CalFresh at the same time if you want), upload documents from your phone, and manage renewals in one account. Available in multiple languages.
Apply at BenefitsCal.com🌟 Online: Covered California
Same application, one door for everything. If your income is too high for Medi-Cal, you're moved seamlessly to a marketplace plan with financial help. Phone help: (800) 300-1506.
Apply at CoveredCA.com📞 Your county office
Every county handles Medi-Cal applications by phone or at the counter — a good option if forms or websites are a barrier. Language help and disability accommodations are required by law.
Find Your County Office📧 Paper application
Download and print the application — available in more than a dozen languages plus large print — and mail it to your county office.
Download the ApplicationWhat You'll Need
You don’t need every document in hand to start — you can submit the application and provide proof afterward. It helps to have:
- Proof of identity for the applicant (driver’s license, ID card, or other documents).
- Social Security numbers for household members who have them (a child or family member without one can still apply for others in the household — and applying for your child does not require you to give your own immigration information).
- Proof of income, such as recent pay stubs, an award letter, or tax return.
- Proof of California residency, such as a lease, utility bill, or mail.
- If you’re 65+, blind, or disabled: recent statements for bank accounts and other countable assets, now that the asset limit applies to these programs.
What Happens After You Apply
The county has 45 days to decide most applications, and up to 90 days if eligibility depends on a disability determination. You’ll receive a written Notice of Action approving or denying coverage; if you disagree with a denial, you have the right to a fair hearing. Medi-Cal can also cover unpaid medical bills from up to three months before the month you applied, if you were eligible during those months — ask for retroactive coverage on your application.
Once you’re approved, coverage continues as long as you remain eligible, with a renewal once a year. Watch your mail: the single most common reason people lose Medi-Cal is a missed renewal packet, and in 2026 a missed renewal has higher stakes than ever for immigrant adults protected under the enrollment freeze’s grandfather rule. If your address changes, tell your county right away.
And if in-home care is the goal: with Medi-Cal active, you can apply for IHSS through your county’s IHSS office, which will schedule a needs assessment with a county social worker.
Deadlines and rights worth writing down
| Day 1 | If approved, coverage is effective back to the first day of the month you applied — not the day of approval. |
| 10 days | Your deadline to report changes (address, income, household size) to the county after they happen. |
| 45 / 90 days | The county's deadline to decide your application (90 if a disability determination is needed). If they blow past it, call and ask for the status in writing. |
| 90 days | Your deadline to request a state fair hearing after a denial or reduction you disagree with. You can keep this right even while reapplying. |
You can check your application status anytime in your BenefitsCal account, or by calling your county office.
Free Help Is Available
You never have to pay anyone to apply for Medi-Cal. Free, legitimate help is available from your county office, from certified enrollment counselors through Covered California, and from the Health Consumer Alliance at (888) 804-3536, which provides free legal help with Medi-Cal problems in multiple languages. For questions about existing coverage, the state’s Medi-Cal Member Helpline is (800) 541-5555.
Medi-Cal approved? Here's your IHSS next step
IHSS is a Medi-Cal benefit, so approval unlocks the door. Contact your county's IHSS office to request an application (form SOC 295); a county social worker will then visit to assess what help you need at home. You can name a family member as your paid provider in most cases.
Find Your County IHSS OfficeQuick glossary
- FPL (Federal Poverty Level)
- The federal income benchmark all Medi-Cal limits are calculated from; updated every year.
- MAGI
- “Modified Adjusted Gross Income” — the tax-based way of counting income used for most adults, children, and pregnant people.
- Share of Cost
- A monthly amount some higher-income enrollees must spend on medical care before Medi-Cal pays — like a deductible that resets each month.
- Full-scope vs. restricted-scope
- Full-scope covers all Medi-Cal services; restricted-scope covers only emergency, pregnancy-related, and long-term care services.
- Notice of Action (NOA)
- The official letter announcing any decision about your case. Never throw one away — it starts your appeal clock.
- Renewal (redetermination)
- The yearly check that you still qualify. Missing the packet is the #1 way people lose coverage.
Sources and figures: Income figures are the Department of Health Care Services' 2026 limits (ACWDL 26-01), as published in Covered California's 2026 Program Eligibility by FPL chart. The 2026 asset-limit and immigration-related changes are described in DHCS guidance and analyses by Justice in Aging, CANHR, and the Health Consumer Alliance. Figures change each year; this article reflects rules in effect as of July 2026.
