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State-only Medi-Cal for immigrants (California-funded coverage by immigration status, including pregnancy and emergency care): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next

Some Medi-Cal coverage depends on immigration status: full coverage for children and pregnant people regardless of status, and emergency Medi-Cal for everyone. From 1 January 2026 adults 19+ without a qualifying status can no longer newly enroll in full Medi-Cal, and more changes are dated for July 2027. Apply at BenefitsCal or the county office, the same door as all Medi-Cal.

What the state-only Medi-Cal groups for immigrants are, in one paragraph

These are the Medi-Cal groups whose coverage depends on immigration status. Children, pregnant people and emergency care are covered regardless of immigration status (rule:children_full, rule:pregnancy_full, rule:emergency_all). From 1 January 2026, adults 19 and older without a qualifying immigration status can no longer newly enroll in full Medi-Cal; those already enrolled keep it by renewing (rule:adults_no_new_enrollment, rule:keep_if_enrolled). More changes are dated for 2027. The application, income limits and county decision are the same as for all Medi-Cal (rule:income_limits).

1 January 2026
the date adults 19+ without a qualifying immigration status stopped being able to newly enroll in full Medi-Cal (Covered California, rule:adults_no_new_enrollment)

Who may qualify

GroupFull Medi-Cal regardless of status?Rule
Children 0 to 18Yesrule:children_full
Pregnant people, through 12 months after pregnancyYesrule:pregnancy_full, rule:pregnancy_program
Undocumented foster youth up to 26Yes, an exception to the 2026 stoprule:exceptions
Adults 19+ already enrolled before 1 January 2026Yes, while eligible and renewed on timerule:keep_if_enrolled
Adults 19+ without qualifying status, not enrolledNo new full enrollment from 1 January 2026; emergency Medi-Cal onlyrule:adults_no_new_enrollment, rule:emergency_all
DACA recipientsYes, if income and household size rules are metrule:daca

Income limits are the Medi-Cal limits, per month for the 2026 Medi-Cal year (rule:income_limits):

Household sizeAdults, 138% FPL, per monthChildren, 266% FPL, per monthPregnancy, 213% FPL, per monthMCAP, 322% FPL, per month
1$1,836$3,538$2,833$4,283
2$2,490$4,799$3,843$5,809
3$3,143$6,057$4,851$7,332
4$3,795$7,315$5,858$8,855
5$4,450$8,576$6,868$10,382
6$5,102$9,835$7,875$11,905
7$5,755$11,093$8,883$13,428
8$6,409$12,354$9,892$14,954
each additional$655$1,261$1,010$1,527

Dated changes. From 1 July 2027: a $30 monthly premium per person for members aged 19 to 59 who are undocumented or have a temporary status (rule:premium_2027); dental benefits end for full-coverage members 19 and older who are undocumented or have a temporary status (rule:dental_ends_2027); people without lawful permanent resident status, including refugees, asylees and trafficking victims, move to Restricted Medi-Cal (rule:non_lpr_restricted_2027).

Each person is decided separately (rule:per_person). Every family member is listed on the application, applying or not (rule:list_everyone).

How to apply, and what happens after

The door is the same as for all Medi-Cal: BenefitsCal, Covered California, phone, or the county office. The county decides within 45 days, or 90 for a disability-based application (rule:decision_45_90), and sends a Notice of Action showing each person's coverage.

For an adult who was enrolled before 2026 without a qualifying status, the renewal is the step that keeps full coverage (rule:keep_if_enrolled, rule:renew_any_status). Coverage stopped for a missed renewal can be restored within 90 days without a new application (rule:renewal_cure_90). A person who disagrees with a decision has 90 days to request a state hearing (rule:hearing_90), at (800) 743-8525 (rule:hearing_phone). The Health Consumer Alliance answers questions on immigration status and care at (888) 804-3536 (rule:legal_help).

The procedure, stage by stage, as data
JSONThe procedure, stage by stage, as data
13 items
10 keys
"id""stage:discover"
"order"1
"name""Discover"
"what_happens""The person learns which groups can still enroll in full Medi-Cal regardless of status (children, pregnant people, foster youth to 26) and that emergency Medi-Cal is open to everyone"
"who_acts""Person / outreach"
"timeline""No deadline; renewals of current members have a due month"
"evidence""None"
"failure_mode""Fear of applying; assuming no one in the family qualifies"
"model_role""Name each person’s group; separate children and pregnancy from adults"
"automation_class""A - the groups are named on official pages"
10 keys
"id""stage:screen_eligibility"
"order"2
"name""Screen eligibility"
"what_happens""Per person: age, pregnancy, foster-youth history, immigration status, and the same income limits as all Medi-Cal (rule:income_limits)"
"who_acts""Model + person"
"timeline""Minutes"
"evidence""Ages, pregnancy, status per person, household income"
"failure_mode""Treating the household as one case"
"model_role""Per-person screening (rule:per_person); never a household-level no"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:gather_documents"
"order"3
"name""Gather documents"
"what_happens""Income and identity papers for applicants; immigration information for each non-citizen applicant"
"who_acts""Person"
"timeline""Before or after filing"
"evidence""Pay stubs, ID, immigration papers"
"failure_mode""Holding back the whole application for one missing paper"
"model_role""List papers per person"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:complete_application"
"order"4
"name""Complete application"
"what_happens""Every family member is listed, applying or not (rule:list_everyone)"
"who_acts""Person"
"timeline""One sitting"
"evidence""Application"
"failure_mode""Leaving members off, which changes household size and income"
"model_role""Walk through who to list"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:submit"
"order"5
"name""Submit"
"what_happens""Same door as all Medi-Cal: BenefitsCal, Covered California, phone or the county office"
"who_acts""Person"
"timeline""Any time"
"evidence""Confirmation number"
"failure_mode""Not keeping the confirmation"
"model_role""Give the exact door"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:interview_verification"
"order"6
"name""Interview / verification"
"what_happens""The county verifies identity, income and status; it asks for documents it cannot verify"
"who_acts""County"
"timeline""Inside the decision window"
"evidence""Requested documents"
"failure_mode""Missed request due date"
"model_role""Track the due date"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:decision"
"order"7
"name""Decision"
"what_happens""The county decides each person’s coverage: full, pregnancy, restricted (emergency) or none"
"who_acts""County"
"timeline""45 days; 90 for disability (rule:decision_45_90)"
"evidence""Notice of Action"
"failure_mode""Not reading the coverage type per person"
"model_role""Read the notice per person"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:issuance_use"
"order"8
"name""Issuance / use"
"what_happens""Benefits Identification Card; plan choice; emergency-only coverage for restricted members (rule:emergency_all)"
"who_acts""Person"
"timeline""30 days to choose a plan"
"evidence""Card"
"failure_mode""Not using emergency Medi-Cal for an emergency"
"model_role""Explain what the coverage type pays for"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:report_changes"
"order"9
"name""Report changes"
"what_happens""A status change is reported to the county; it can change the coverage type"
"who_acts""Person"
"timeline""UNKNOWN: no page read today states the reporting deadline"
"evidence""New immigration papers"
"failure_mode""Staying on restricted coverage after gaining a qualifying status"
"model_role""Prompt a report after a status change"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:renew_recertify"
"order"10
"name""Renew / recertify"
"what_happens""Members enrolled before 2026 keep full coverage only by renewing on time (rule:keep_if_enrolled, rule:renew_any_status); from 1 July 2027 a $30 monthly premium applies to members 19 to 59 who are undocumented or have a temporary status (rule:premium_2027)"
"who_acts""County + person"
"timeline""Yearly renewal month"
"evidence""Renewal form, income proof"
"failure_mode""A missed renewal for an adult without qualifying status, who then cannot re-enroll in full coverage"
"model_role""Track the renewal month above all else for this group"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:denial_response"
"order"11
"name""Denial response"
"what_happens""A stop for a missed renewal can be undone within 90 days (rule:renewal_cure_90)"
"who_acts""Person"
"timeline""90 days"
"evidence""Renewal form"
"failure_mode""Letting the 90 days pass"
"model_role""State the date the window closes"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:appeal_fair_hearing"
"order"12
"name""Appeal / fair hearing"
"what_happens""State hearing on any eligibility action (rule:hearing_90, rule:hearing_phone); legal help from the Health Consumer Alliance (rule:legal_help)"
"who_acts""Person + CDSS State Hearings Division"
"timeline""90 days"
"evidence""Notice of Action"
"failure_mode""Missing the 90-day line"
"model_role""Give the deadline and the phone numbers"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:overpayment_exit"
"order"13
"name""Overpayment / exit"
"what_happens""From July 2027, people without lawful permanent resident status, such as refugees and asylees, move to Restricted Medi-Cal (rule:non_lpr_restricted_2027); dental ends for undocumented adults 19+ (rule:dental_ends_2027)"
"who_acts""State"
"timeline""July 2027"
"evidence""Notice"
"failure_mode""Not knowing what restricted coverage still pays"
"model_role""Explain the change on the date it applies"
"automation_class""C - state action"

The same facts open other programs

Citizenship, immigration status, age and household income are asked by these programs too:

References (9)
What this article shares with the graph
JSONWhat this article shares with the graph
6 keys
"program_id""B080"
"graph""california-benefits-graph"
"related_program_ids" 9 items
"B011"
"B065"
"B002"
"B024"
"B032"
"B017"
"B019"
"B003"
"B012"
"related_programs" 9 keys
"B011""Medi-Cal (Medicaid) (level: Federal/State; administrator: CA Dept of Health Care Services + counties / Covered California; graph url: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal)"
"B065""Medi-Cal Dental (Denti-Cal) + vision (level: Federal/State; administrator: DHCS; graph url: https://dental.dhcs.ca.gov)"
"B002""California Food Assistance Program (CFAP)"
"B024""CAPI (Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants)"
"B032""Refugee Cash Assistance + Refugee Medical Assistance"
"B017""County indigent health programs (CMSP, Healthy San Francisco, county clinics)"
"B019""Family PACT"
"B003""WIC (Women, Infants & Children)"
"B012""Covered California premium tax credits (APTC)"
"triggered_by_events" 1 item
"event:immigration_status_change_mixed_status_fear"
"shares_facts_with" 7 keys
"person.identity.citizenship" 3 items
"B001"
"B002"
"B011"
"person.identity.immigration_status" 4 items
"B001"
"B002"
"B011"
"B024"
"person.identity.date_of_birth" 5 items
"B001"
"B011"
"B013"
"B023"
"B063"
"benefits.currently_receiving[]" 4 items
"B001"
"B009"
"B043"
"B047"
"household.size" 6 items
"B001"
"B003"
"B011"
"B021"
"B045"
"B049"
"household.income.monthly_gross" 8 items
"B001"
"B003"
"B011"
"B021"
"B043"
"B044"
"B045"
"B060"
"household.composition.members[]" 3 items
"B001"
"B011"
"B021"

Official addresses

References (7)
Related pages
Beside
Medi-Cal (California Medicaid health coverage): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextMedi-Cal Dental (Denti-Cal) and vision (the dental and eye care that come with Medi-Cal): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextCalifornia Food Assistance Program (CFAP) (state food benefits for noncitizens barred from CalFresh): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextCAPI (California cash aid for aged, blind and disabled immigrants denied SSI): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextRefugee Cash Assistance and Refugee Medical Assistance (short-term cash and health coverage for refugees and asylees in California): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextCounty indigent health programs (CMSP, Connect to Care, Healthy San Francisco: county care for uninsured adults): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next
References (22)
  1. Immigrants | Covered California: adults without qualifying status — Covered California“Starting on Jan. 1, 2026, adults without a qualifying immigration status can no longer enroll in full Medi-Cal.”
  2. Immigrants | Covered California: people already enrolled — Covered California“If you were already enrolled before that date, you can keep your coverage, as long as you remain eligible”
  3. Immigrants | Covered California: children — Covered California“Eligible for full Medi-Cal coverage regardless of immigration status.”
  4. Immigrants | Covered California: pregnancy — Covered California“Eligible for full Medi-Cal coverage during pregnancy and for up to one year after the pregnancy ends, regardless of immigration status.”
  5. Immigrants | Covered California: emergency Medi-Cal — Covered California“everyone can access emergency Medi-Cal for serious medical emergencies that require immediate care, and emergency dental care for severe pain, infection or tooth removal”
  6. Immigrants | Covered California: DACA recipients — Covered California“You are still eligible for Medi-Cal if you meet income and household size requirements.”
  7. Immigrants | Covered California: mixed-status families — Covered California“Each person’s eligibility is considered separately.”
  8. Immigrants | Covered California: listing every member — Covered California“List all family members on the application, regardless of their immigration status or whether they are applying for health insurance.”
  9. Immigrants | Covered California: Health Consumer Alliance phone — Covered California“(888) 804-3536.”
  10. Medi-Cal during pregnancy | Covered California: Medi-Cal for Pregnant Individuals — Covered California“Pregnant people living in California who aren’t legal residents, and who don’t qualify for full-scope Medi-Cal”
  11. Medi-Cal during pregnancy | Covered California: length of pregnancy coverage — Covered California“Pregnancy, plus 12 months after pregnancy ends”
  12. Check Medi-Cal Eligibility | SFHSA: the 2026 enrollment stop — San Francisco Human Services Agency (county Medi-Cal office)“Undocumented Californians aged 19 and older who currently do not receive Medi-Cal benefits are no longer eligible to enroll”
  13. Check Medi-Cal Eligibility | SFHSA: exceptions — San Francisco Human Services Agency (county Medi-Cal office)“Exceptions apply for undocumented foster youth up to age 26 and pregnant people.”
  14. Check Medi-Cal Eligibility | SFHSA: renewal for current members — San Francisco Human Services Agency (county Medi-Cal office)“This applies to all Medi-Cal recipients regardless of immigration status or age.”
  15. Public Benefits Changes Coming Soon | SFHSA: premium from 1 July 2027 — San Francisco Human Services Agency (county Medi-Cal office)“will begin paying a $30 monthly premium per person on the Medi-Cal case.”
  16. Public Benefits Changes Coming Soon | SFHSA: dental from 1 July 2027 — San Francisco Human Services Agency (county Medi-Cal office)“Full Medi-Cal coverage recipients age 19 and older who are undocumented or have temporary immigration status will lose dental benefits.”
  17. Public Benefits Changes Coming Soon | SFHSA: restricted Medi-Cal from July 2027 — San Francisco Human Services Agency (county Medi-Cal office)“These immigrants will transition to Restricted Medi-Cal in July 2027.”
  18. Program Eligibility by Federal Poverty Level for 2027 (chart dated 10/2026): Medi-Cal monthly income limits — Covered California“Medi-Cal monthly values are provided above, for reference. Source: DHCS ACWDL 26-01”
  19. Apply for Medi-Cal | SFHSA: decision time — San Francisco Human Services Agency (county Medi-Cal office)“Eligibility can take up to 45 days to determine and up to 90 days if you apply based on a disability.”
  20. Keep Medi-Cal | SFHSA: the 90-day cure period — San Francisco Human Services Agency (county Medi-Cal office)“You will have 90 days after your discontinuance to submit the renewal form and income verification documents without having to reapply.”
  21. Hearing Requests | CDSS: the 90 days — California Department of Social Services, State Hearings Division“you have 90 days to request a state hearing.”
  22. Hearing Requests | CDSS: phone — California Department of Social Services, State Hearings Division“Call the State Hearings Division toll free (800) 743-8525”