Yes. California offers free healthcare to undocumented immigrants who meet income and residency rules, through full-scope Medi-Cal. Since January 2024, every income-eligible adult qualifies regardless of age or immigration status, and people earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level pay no premiums. Because federal Medicaid dollars cannot be spent on undocumented residents outside of emergencies, California covers the cost out of its state general fund.
Who Qualifies
Two things decide eligibility: income and California residency. Immigration status does not.
On income, full-scope Medi-Cal is open to households at or below 138% of the federal poverty level, calculated using the Modified Adjusted Gross Income method also used under the Affordable Care Act. For 2026, that works out to roughly $22,025 for a single person and about $45,540 for a family of four, based on federal poverty guidelines of $15,960 and $33,000 respectively.1HealthCare.gov. Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Pay stubs, tax returns, or employer statements are the usual proof. Self-employed applicants can submit profit-and-loss records, and people with irregular income can submit a written explanation.
On residency, California regulations ask whether you are physically present in the state and living here with the intention of staying permanently or indefinitely. Entering California with a job commitment or to look for work also counts. Residency continues until you establish it somewhere else.2Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute. California Code of Regulations Title 22 Section 50320 – California Residence – General A rental agreement or utility bill will usually serve as proof. A foreign passport or consular ID is accepted for identification, and a Social Security number is not required for the state-funded coverage, since these enrollees are ineligible for federally funded benefits anyway.3Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute. California Code of Regulations Title 22 Section 50302 – Restricted Medi-Cal Benefits for Certain Aliens
The underlying statute authorizing this coverage is Welfare and Institutions Code Section 14007.8, which has been amended several times to add each new age group until the coverage reached everyone.4California Legislative Information. California Code WIC 14007.8
What the Coverage Includes
Full-scope Medi-Cal for undocumented enrollees is the same benefit package every other Medi-Cal member receives. That means primary care, prescriptions, mental health and substance abuse treatment, dental, vision, family planning, and specialist referrals. Transportation to medical and dental appointments is also covered.5California Department of Health Care Services. Medi-Cal Young Adult Expansion Frequently Asked Questions
Applicants whose income is above the full-scope cutoff may still qualify for restricted-scope Medi-Cal, which pays for emergency services and pregnancy-related care but not routine doctor visits or prescriptions.3Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute. California Code of Regulations Title 22 Section 50302 – Restricted Medi-Cal Benefits for Certain Aliens
What It Costs
Right now, enrollees at or below 138% of the federal poverty level pay no monthly premium. Enrollment is effectively free at the point of coverage, with the cost paid by California taxpayers.
That is likely to change. The Governor’s 2026-27 budget proposal includes a freeze on new enrollment of undocumented adults into full-scope coverage, a $30 monthly premium for undocumented adults who remain in full-scope Medi-Cal, reduced payments to safety net clinics for care delivered to undocumented patients, and elimination of most dental coverage for undocumented adults.6Legislative Analyst’s Office. The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Analysis Federal legislation under consideration would separately require states to impose copayments of up to $35 for certain Medi-Cal services. None of this is final. Anyone applying in 2026 should check the Department of Health Care Services for current eligibility and cost-sharing rules before relying on the no-premium figure.
Emergency Care If You Haven’t Enrolled
Enrollment in Medi-Cal is not the only path to care. A separate federal law, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, requires nearly every hospital in the country to screen and stabilize anyone with an emergency condition regardless of immigration status, insurance, or ability to pay. It applies to any hospital that accepts Medicare funding, which covers almost all U.S. hospitals.7Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) Active labor is treated as an emergency under the law.8Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Your Rights in an Emergency Room Under EMTALA
What the hospital does not have to do is anything after the emergency: no follow-up care, no chronic disease management, no ongoing prescriptions. That gap is why Medi-Cal enrollment matters even for people who can walk into an ER.
Will Enrolling Affect a Future Green Card?
This is the most important question for anyone considering Medi-Cal who hopes to adjust immigration status later, and the honest answer is that the rules are in flux.
Under the public charge regulation finalized in 2022, immigration officials consider only cash assistance for income maintenance and long-term government-funded institutional care when deciding whether someone is likely to become a public charge. Medicaid (other than long-term institutionalization), food assistance, and housing benefits are specifically excluded.9eCFR. 8 CFR 212.22 – Public Charge Inadmissibility Determination Under that rule, enrolling in Medi-Cal does not count against you.10U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. DHS Publishes Fair and Humane Public Charge Rule
The current administration published a proposed rule in late 2025 that would rescind the 2022 regulation and could restore a broader public charge test. The comment period closed in January 2026, and a final rule could issue at any time. If the broader definition returns, non-cash benefits like Medi-Cal could again factor into immigration decisions. Anyone with a pending or planned immigration case should talk to an immigration attorney before enrolling or disenrolling.
Penalties for Lying on the Application
Misstating eligibility on a Medi-Cal application carries real consequences. Welfare and Institutions Code Section 14014 makes anyone who obtains benefits through false statements liable for repayment and subject to criminal prosecution.11California Legislative Information. California Code WIC 14014 If the improperly paid amount exceeds the $950 grand theft threshold under the Penal Code, prosecutors can charge the offense as either a misdemeanor or a felony. Felony convictions can bring state prison time and, for certain categories of grand theft, fines up to $5,000.
The Department of Health Care Services and county welfare offices investigate through audits, data cross-checks, and tips. Honest mistakes can also trigger review, so anyone unsure about a question on the application should ask the county office for help rather than guess.