For many California families, Medi-Cal is what makes everything else possible: doctor visits, prescriptions, therapies, equipment, and in-home care. Keeping it means getting through a yearly renewal, also called redetermination. Most families renew without trouble. When coverage is lost, it’s often over paperwork, not because the person stopped qualifying.
Here’s how renewal works, what to keep, what’s changing in 2026 and 2027, and what to do if your coverage ends.
What a renewal is
Once a year, your county checks whether you still qualify for Medi-Cal. This happens even if nothing in your life has changed. The county sends a letter about your Medi-Cal renewal, and that letter tells you whether you need to do anything.
Your yearly letter
It will say one of three things
The county already had what it needed. Your Medi-Cal continues. Nothing to send, but read it and check that everything is right.
The county needs more information. Fill out the form, sign it, and send it back with any proof it asks for by the due date.
Coverage has stopped. Don’t panic. You may have 90 days to turn in what’s missing and get it back without reapplying.
Not sure when yours is due? Log in to BenefitsCal or call your county Medi-Cal office.
How the renewal process works
The county starts with what it already knows. If that isn’t enough, it sends you a renewal form to fill out.
Your renewal, step by step
- BeforeThe county checks what it already knows
It looks at records it can reach, like income data, before asking you for anything.
- ~60 days beforeA letter or renewal form arrives
If the county needs more, it sends the form at least 60 days before your renewal date. It may also come by text or email.
- Within 60 daysSend it back
You have 60 days from the date the form was sent. Renew online, by mail, by phone, by fax, or in person. Earlier is safer.
- Along the wayReminders and requests
You may get reminder letters, or a request for more proof. Answer each one by its own due date.
- If it ends90 days to fix it
Turn in what’s missing within 90 days of the end date, and the county must look again without a new application.
- After 90 daysReapply
You can still apply again at any time. You may be able to get help with recent medical bills.
You can renew online through BenefitsCal, by mail, by phone, by fax, or in person at your county Medi-Cal office. Open every letter from the county, even if you think you know what it says. A request for one more document can have its own, shorter deadline.
Worth knowingBefore the county can end your Medi-Cal, state law says it must find that you don’t qualify under any Medi-Cal program, not just the one you’re in now. If your notice says coverage is ending and you think another program fits, like one based on disability, ask about it in writing.
Keep proof of everything
Paperwork gets lost. Online uploads fail. When that happens, your proof is what gets coverage back quickly.
- Online: save or screenshot the confirmation page or number.
- By mail: make copies first, and consider sending it with tracking.
- In person: ask for a stamped copy or a receipt.
- By phone: write down the date, time, and the name of the person who helped you.
Renewal checklist and proof log
Check off what you have, then log how and when you sent it. Save it as a PDF or print it for your records. What you type stays on this device only.
Have ready
Proof I sent it
To save or print, open this page in your phone’s regular browser. Tap the ••• or share menu, then choose “Open in browser.”
For your records only. Nothing is sent to the county or the state.
Report changes as they happen
Don’t wait for renewal to report a change. DHCS asks members to report changes within 10 days, like a new address, phone number, income, job, or someone moving in or out. Keeping your address current matters even more from 2027, when the state will start checking addresses against post office records. You can update your information with DHCS or through your county.
If you’re 65+, blind, or have a disability
Medi-Cal for older adults and people with disabilities has its own rules, and the renewal form may ask about savings and property, not just income.
Worth knowingSince January 1, 2026, Medi-Cal for people who are 65 or older, blind, or have a disability has an asset limit again: $130,000 for one person, plus $65,000 for each additional household member. Your home, one car, household items, and some retirement accounts don’t count. Current members are checked at their first renewal in 2026. DHCS asset limit page
Some people in these programs also have a monthly share of cost. Our guide to Medi-Cal share of cost explains how it works.
Families of teens with disabilities should also watch for notices around ages 18 and 19. That’s when a young person may move to a different Medi-Cal program, for example if SSI reviews their disability under adult rules. Open those letters right away, and remember the county must check every program before ending coverage.
What’s changing in 2026 and 2027
A 2025 federal law, H.R. 1, is changing Medi-Cal in stages. Most of the changes fall on adults ages 19 to 64 who qualify based on income alone. Children, seniors, and people who qualify through a disability are largely not affected by the new renewal and work rules.
Coming up
Medi-Cal changes to watch
Some immigrant adults
Federal changes affect certain immigration statuses. Affected members keep state-funded full-scope Medi-Cal until June 30, 2027.
Work rules for some adults
Some adults 19 to 64 must show 80 hours a month of work, volunteering, school, or training, or about $580 a month in earnings. A letter will say if this applies to you.
Less coverage for past bills
Coverage for medical bills from before you applied drops from up to three months to one month for adults without children, and two months for everyone else.
Six-month renewals
Some adults 19 to 64 move from yearly to every-six-months renewals, as their renewal comes due. New applicants in this group start in January 2027.
Small copays
Some adults will pay small copays, capped at 5% of household income. No copays for emergency care, checkups, pregnancy, or children’s care.
- Children
- Adults 65 and older
- People who qualify through a disability, or who are blind
- Most people with Medicare
These groups still renew once a year.
Dates are from DHCS as of November 2026 and could shift: California has asked for more time, and parts of the federal rules are being challenged in court. Check DHCS for the latest.
Not affected by six-month renewals or work rules: Children; Adults 65 and older; People who qualify through a disability, or who are blind; Most people with Medicare.
Many family caregivers are on Medi-Cal themselves, so the work rules matter at home too.
Worth knowingIf you’re an adult on Medi-Cal who cares for a child 13 or younger, or for a person with a disability, you’re on the list of people exempt from the new work rules. Paid work, including IHSS caregiving, also counts toward the 80 hours. If you get a letter saying the rules apply to you, answer it and tell the county you’re a caregiver.
Why it matters for IHSS families
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) is a Medi-Cal program. A missed renewal can affect more than doctor visits.
FlagIHSS depends on Medi-Cal. If Medi-Cal ends, even over missing paperwork, IHSS services can stop with it, and your provider may not be paid for hours after the end date. If both programs are in your life, put the renewal date on your calendar and treat it like a deadline you can’t miss.
If your Medi-Cal is denied or cut
First, read the notice carefully. If it ended because of missing paperwork, the fastest fix is usually to turn in what’s missing within 90 days. If you think the county got it wrong, you can ask for a State Hearing.
FlagYou have 90 days from the date of the notice to ask for a State Hearing. To keep your Medi-Cal while you wait, ask before the date the change takes effect. Request it by phone at 1-800-743-8525, online through CDSS, or by mail or fax using the address on your notice.
Not sure whether to go it alone? Read IHSS Appeal Help: Hire an Advocate or Represent Yourself. Much of it applies to Medi-Cal hearings too. Free help may also be available from local legal aid or the Health Consumer Alliance.
Frequently asked questions
What is Medi-Cal redetermination?
It’s the yearly check, also called a renewal, when your county confirms you still qualify for Medi-Cal. It happens even if nothing has changed.
How long do I have to return my Medi-Cal renewal form?
California law gives you 60 days from the date the county sends the form. Send it as early as you can and keep proof you sent it.
How do I know when my Medi-Cal renewal is due?
Log in to BenefitsCal to see your due date, or call your county Medi-Cal office. Keep your address, phone, and email up to date so you get the letters.
What happens if I miss my Medi-Cal renewal?
Your coverage can end. You then have 90 days to turn in what’s missing, and the county must review it without a new application. After 90 days, you can reapply.
Can I renew Medi-Cal online?
Yes. You can renew through BenefitsCal or Covered California online, or by mail, phone, fax, or in person with your county.
Will I have to renew Medi-Cal every six months?
Only some adults 19 to 64, starting in 2027. Children, people 65 and older, and people who qualify through a disability still renew once a year.
Is there an asset limit for Medi-Cal in 2026?
Yes, for people who are 65 or older, blind, or have a disability: $130,000 for one person, plus $65,000 for each additional household member. Your home and one car don’t count.
Does losing Medi-Cal affect IHSS?
Yes. IHSS depends on Medi-Cal, so if Medi-Cal ends, IHSS services can stop too. Keeping Medi-Cal active protects IHSS hours.
Can I appeal if my Medi-Cal is ended?
Yes. Ask for a State Hearing within 90 days of the notice. If you ask before the change takes effect, your coverage can continue while you wait.
Stay ahead of it
Medi-Cal renewal doesn’t have to be stressful. Know your renewal month, open every letter, answer early, and keep proof. With 2027 bringing new rules for some adults, those habits matter more than ever. Staying on top of it protects your family’s health care, and the in-home support that depends on it.
Keep reading
More for Medi-Cal and IHSS families
- How Medi-Cal Share of Cost Affects IHSS
- What Is IHSS? A Plain-Language Guide
- What Does IHSS Cover?
- IHSS vs. WPCS: Understanding the Difference
- Documenting Your Child’s Needs for IHSS
- IHSS Appeal Help: Hire an Advocate or Represent Yourself
- IHSS Change of Address
- What Every IHSS Caregiver in California Should Know
Sources
- DHCS — Keep Your Medi-CalThe three renewal letters; BenefitsCal; reporting changes within 10 days
- California Welfare and Institutions Code § 14005.37Ex parte review; 60 days to return the form; county must check all programs; 90-day cure period
- DHCS — Tracking Federal Impact: Medi-Cal Eligibility (updated Oct. 29, 2026)Work rules, six-month renewals, retroactive coverage, immigrant eligibility, copays
- DHCS — H.R. 1 Implementation Fact SheetWho the work rules apply to; exemptions, including caregivers
- DHCS — Medi-Cal Changes2026 asset limit; 2026–2028 dates
- DHCS — Reinstatement of the Medi-Cal Asset LimitAsset limit amounts and exempt assets
- Justice in Aging — Medi-Cal Asset Limit FAQCurrent members checked at first 2026 renewal
- LA County DPSS — Medi-Cal Renewal PolicyWays to submit a renewal; reminder notices
- DHCS — Medi-Cal Fair Hearing90-day hearing deadline; keeping benefits during an appeal; contacts
DHCS and your county are the authority on your Medi-Cal. Federal changes are still being rolled out, so check DHCS for the latest dates.
About this article
This guide explains how Medi-Cal renewal (redetermination) works in California, what’s changing in 2026 and 2027, and how families can keep coverage without gaps. It’s an update of our April 2026 article, rewritten with current DHCS guidance and state law.
IHSS Connect is an independent, free registry for families and caregivers. We are not part of DHCS, CDSS, or any county, and this article is general information, not legal advice.
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