How to Check If You Qualify for Medi-Cal - and What to Do Next
What is the income limit to qualify for Medi-Cal in California?
Medi-Cal covers most adults with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, adjusted annually when federal poverty guidelines update. The exact dollar amount depends on your household size and changes each year. For current income limits that apply to your specific situation, check the California Department of Health Care Services at dhcs.ca.gov.
Can undocumented immigrants get Medi-Cal in California?
Yes. As of 2024, California extended full-scope Medi-Cal to undocumented adults of all ages who meet the same income requirements as citizens and legal residents. If you previously checked and were told you didn't qualify based on immigration status, you may now be eligible. Verify your current eligibility at dhcs.ca.gov or through your county's human services office.
Do you have to wait for open enrollment to apply for Medi-Cal?
No. Unlike Covered California marketplace plans, Medi-Cal has no open-enrollment window. You can apply any time of year through BenefitsCal at benefitscal.com or through your county's Department of Social Services. If approved, coverage can sometimes be backdated to the month you applied, so there's no advantage to waiting.
Does having money in savings disqualify you from Medi-Cal?
No. California eliminated the asset test for most Medi-Cal categories, so savings accounts, a home you own, or other assets are generally not counted against you. Eligibility for most adults under 65 is based on income using the Modified Adjusted Gross Income standard, not on what you own. Confirm current rules for your specific category at dhcs.ca.gov.
What happens if your income changes while you're on Medi-Cal?
If your income rises above the Medi-Cal limit, you're required to report the change. Rather than simply losing coverage, you'll typically be transitioned to a subsidized Covered California plan with a special enrollment period to choose a plan. If your income drops while you're on a Covered California plan, you may become eligible for Medi-Cal and can switch at any time.
Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program, covers more than 14 million residents - roughly one in three Californians - but a surprising number of people who qualify have never enrolled. Whether you've lost job-based coverage, had a change in income, or just never looked into it, figuring out where you stand doesn't require a benefits specialist or a stack of paperwork to get started.
Related: How to Check If You Qualify for Medi-Cal in California - and What to Do Next · How to Qualify for PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E's CARE Discount - and What It Actually Saves You
Who Is Eligible
Eligibility for Medi-Cal is based primarily on income, household size, immigration status, and in some cases age or disability. For most adults under 65, the main threshold is income: as of 2026, California has expanded Medi-Cal to cover adults with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, which the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) adjusts annually when federal poverty guidelines update. Check dhcs.ca.gov for the current income limits that apply to your household size - the numbers shift each year, so any specific dollar figure here could already be outdated by the time you read it.
Children, pregnant individuals, and people with disabilities may qualify under different or more generous thresholds than the standard adult rules. California has also extended full-scope Medi-Cal eligibility regardless of immigration status to adults 26 through 49 and to those 50 and older, a phased expansion that was completed in 2024. Undocumented adults in those age groups are now eligible under the same income rules as citizens and legal residents. If you previously checked your eligibility and were told you didn't qualify based on immigration status, it's worth checking again - the rules have changed substantially in the past few years.
What Counts as Income
Medi-Cal uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income, or MAGI, for most applicants under 65. That generally means your gross income before most deductions, including wages, self-employment income, Social Security benefits (in some cases), and unemployment benefits. It does not count assets like savings accounts or a home you own - California eliminated its asset test for most Medi-Cal categories, so having money in the bank won't disqualify you the way it once did.
Household size matters as much as income. A single adult earning what looks like a modest salary might be over the limit, while a family of four with the same total income could qualify comfortably. Use the income screening tool at coveredca.com or dhcs.ca.gov to run your numbers - both tools will tell you whether you're likely Medi-Cal territory or whether you'd be better served by a Covered California subsidized plan.
How to Apply
You can apply for Medi-Cal year-round - there's no open-enrollment window the way there is for Covered California marketplace plans. Applications go through your county's Department of Social Services (or the equivalent county human services agency, which varies by name depending on where you live). You can also apply online through BenefitsCal at benefitscal.com, which is the state's unified benefits portal and handles Medi-Cal applications for all 58 counties.
For most applicants, you'll need to provide proof of identity, your Social Security number if you have one, proof of California residency, and income documentation - recent pay stubs, a tax return, or a letter from an employer. Self-employed applicants will typically need to document their income through tax records or a self-attestation form, depending on the county. If you're applying based on a recent income change that your last tax return doesn't reflect, you can usually document your current income rather than your historical income.
Counties are required to process Medi-Cal applications within 45 days for most categories, or 90 days if a disability determination is needed. Coverage, if approved, can be backdated in some circumstances to the month you applied or even earlier, so applying sooner rather than later is worth doing even if you're uncertain whether you'll qualify.
If You're Losing Other Coverage
Losing job-based health insurance - from a layoff, a reduction in hours, or aging off a parent's plan - is a qualifying life event that triggers special enrollment in Covered California marketplace plans, but it's also a common entry point to Medi-Cal. If your income after losing your job puts you under the Medi-Cal threshold, you can apply for Medi-Cal immediately and don't need to wait for any enrollment period. There's no gap in eligibility between losing workplace coverage and applying.
See also: Walmart Great Value Fruit Cocktail Recall in California: What to Check Now · California's "Red Flag" Law: How to File a Gun Violence Restraining Order and What Happens Next
If you're not sure whether you'd land in Medi-Cal or a subsidized Covered California plan, you can apply through Covered California and the system will route you to Medi-Cal automatically if your income qualifies - you don't have to figure out the boundary yourself before you start.
If You're Already Enrolled and Something Changes
Medi-Cal eligibility is redetermined annually, and counties are required to send renewal notices before your coverage lapses. In the years following the COVID-19 pandemic's continuous-enrollment protections ending in 2023, many Californians were disenrolled during "unwinding" reviews - sometimes incorrectly, because contact information was out of date or paperwork wasn't returned in time. If you were disenrolled and believe you still qualify, you can reapply immediately through BenefitsCal or your county office. There's no waiting period for reapplying after a disenrollment.
Reporting a change in income, household size, or address within 10 days of the change is technically required, and doing so promptly protects you from overpayment situations or a gap in coverage. If your income rises above the Medi-Cal limit mid-year, you should report that change - you'll be transitioned to a Covered California plan rather than simply losing coverage, generally with a special enrollment period to pick a plan.
This is general information, not legal or medical advice. Eligibility rules, income thresholds, and program details can change. Verify your current eligibility and any specific figures with the California Department of Health Care Services at dhcs.ca.gov or through your county's human services agency.