Medi-Cal

Starting January 1, 2027, some Medi-Cal members ages 19-64 years of age will need to work, volunteer, go to school, attend a training program, or have income to keep their Medi-Cal due to new federal rules. Individuals who qualify for an exemption may be excused from this requirement.

Click here to learn more about Medi-Cal Work and Community Engagement Requirements (WCER).

Starting with redeterminations due in March 2027, some Medi-Cal members ages 19-64 will have their eligibility renewed every 6 months instead of every year due to new federal rules. This includes individuals who received full scope Medi-Cal as well as restricted scope Medi-Cal.

Many of the same individuals will also be assessed for Medi-Cal Work and Community Engagement Requirements (WCER) at each redetermination. Click here to learn more about Medi-Cal WCER.

Starting January 1, 2027, Medi-Cal members with certain immigration statuses will be transitioned from their current Medi-Cal health plan to Medi-Cal Fee-for-Service due to changes in federal rules. You will still have Medi-Cal but the way you get services will change. Medi-Cal will still pay for your care.

Starting January 1, 2027, Medi-Cal will pay for fewer months of medical bills from before you applied. The new Retroactive Medi-Cal coverage periods are as follows:

• Adults ages 19-64 with income up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL): Retroactive Medi-Cal coverage is limited to 1 month prior to the month of application.
• All other individuals: Retroactive Medi-Cal coverage is limited to 2 months prior to the month of application.

Effective July 1, 2027, Medi-Cal will no longer cover regular dental services for members who:

• Are 19 years of age or older,
• Do not have satisfactory immigration status (SIS) or cannot establish SIS, and
• Are not pregnant, in their one-year postpartum period, or a former foster youth under the age of 26.

Emergency dental situations (e.g. serious tooth pain, infections, tooth extractions) will still be covered for these individuals. This coverage level will be called full scope Medi-Cal with no Dental. Please refer to the Medi-Cal Dental Benefit Changes – Frequently Asked Questions for more information. 

If you fit the criteria above and applied for Medi-Cal before January 1, 2026, you can still use your full dental benefits until June 30, 2027. Please visit the following pages to learn about what dental services are covered now, how to access your dental benefits, where to find a dentist, and more.

• Smile, California (Spanish version: Sonrie, California)
• Alameda County Public Health Department, Office of Dental Health

Starting January 1, 2026, new applicants 19 years of age or older who do not have Satisfactory Immigration Status (SIS) or are unable to provide verification that they have SIS will no longer be able to enroll into full scope Medi-Cal. Individuals who do not have SIS or are unable to provide verification that they have SIS and apply on or after January 1, 2026, will only be eligible to restricted scope Medi-Cal, which covers emergency related and pregnancy related services.

Individuals who are already enrolled into full scope Medi-Cal prior to January 1, 2026, will be able to keep their full scope Medi-Cal, regardless of their immigration status, if they continue to meet all other requirements, including completing Medi-Cal renewal requirements.

Additionally, children under the age of 19 and pregnant individuals who apply for Medi-Cal on or after January 1, 2026, will continue to be eligible for full scope Medi-Cal, regardless of their immigration status, if they meet all other eligibility requirements. Pregnant individuals will be able to keep their full scope Medi-Cal for the duration of their pregnancy and their one-year postpartum period.

Effective January 1, 2026, the asset limit test will be reinstated for all Non-MAGI Medi-Cal programs, including Long Term Care (LTC) and Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs), except for the Pickle, Disabled Adult Child (DAC), and Disabled Widow/er (DW) programs.

The asset limits will be set at $130,000 for one person and $65,000 for each additional household member (up to a maximum of 10 people) for the impacted Non-MAGI Medi-Cal programs. Individuals who apply for Non-MAGI Medi-Cal on or after January 1, 2026, will be required to provide asset information and verification at application. Members who are currently enrolled in Non-MAGI Medi-Cal will be required to provide asset information and verification at their next annual renewal in 2026.

Please visit the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Asset Limit Frequently Asked Questions site for common questions and answers about the reinstatement of the asset limit for Non-MAGI Medi-Cal programs.