To qualify for Medi-Cal in 2026, most California adults under 65 need a household income at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level — about $22,025 a year for a single person or $45,540 for a family of four. Children, pregnant women, and seniors have different California Medi-Cal income limits, and asset limits returned on January 1, 2026 for programs serving people 65 and older, people with disabilities, and long-term care applicants.
Income Limits for Most Adults
If you are under 65 and not applying based on a disability, your eligibility is measured under the Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) standard. MAGI follows federal tax rules: wages, self-employment earnings, and investment income count. Supplemental Security Income and most non-taxable Social Security benefits do not. The ceiling sits at 138% of the Federal Poverty Level, which already builds in a 5% income disregard on top of the statutory 133% threshold.1KFF. Medicaid Income Eligibility Limits for Adults as a Percent of the Federal Poverty Level
Using the 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines published in January,2Federal Register. Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines the annual MAGI income caps at 138% FPL work out to approximately:
- 1 person: $22,025
- 2 people: $29,863
- 3 people: $37,702
- 4 people: $45,540
- 5 people: $53,378
- 6 people: $61,217
- Each additional person: add about $7,838
DHCS updates its official eligibility chart after new poverty guidelines are released, and the posted numbers on the state website may lag by a few weeks.3DHCS – CA.gov. Eligibility by Federal Poverty Level Under MAGI, assets do not count at all. Bank balances, retirement accounts, and the value of your car are simply not part of the decision. If your income is just above the cap, you likely qualify for subsidized private coverage through Covered California instead.
Higher Limits for Children and Pregnant Women
Children and pregnant women qualify at thresholds well above the standard adult limit. Children under 19 are eligible when household income is at or below 266% of the FPL. For a family of four in 2026, that is roughly $87,780 a year. A household with a single child can qualify with income up to about $42,454.
Pregnant women qualify at 213% of the FPL, with coverage continuing through one year postpartum. A single pregnant woman could earn up to roughly $34,000 annually and still be eligible. These wider thresholds reflect a deliberate policy choice to keep prenatal and pediatric care accessible even in households that earn too much to qualify under the adult rules.
Income Limits for Adults 65 and Older or With Disabilities
If you are 65 or older, blind, or have a qualifying disability, non-MAGI rules apply. The most common pathway is the Aged and Disabled Federal Poverty Level (A&D FPL) program, which also uses 138% of the FPL as its cap but measures monthly income. As of April 2025, the monthly limits are $1,801 for an individual and $2,433 for a couple. These figures typically update each April after new federal poverty guidelines are issued, so expect an adjustment in April 2026.2Federal Register. Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines A&D FPL provides full-scope Medi-Cal with no Share of Cost.
SSI-Linked Medi-Cal
Anyone receiving federal Supplemental Security Income gets full-scope Medi-Cal automatically. The 2026 federal SSI payment is $994 per month for an individual and $1,491 per month for a couple.4Social Security Administration. SSI Federal Payment Amounts for 2026 California adds a State Supplementary Payment on top, projected at about $240 per month for individuals and $608 per month for couples in the 2026–27 fiscal year.5Legislative Analyst’s Office. Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) The combined SSI/SSP payment still falls below the A&D FPL limit, so SSI recipients in California always qualify.
If You Earn Too Much for SSI But Not for A&D FPL
Income above the SSI level but under the A&D FPL thresholds still qualifies you for full-scope Medi-Cal through A&D FPL. Income above A&D FPL does not automatically disqualify you either. In that case, you move into the Share of Cost pathway.
Share of Cost if Your Income Is Too High
Applicants whose income exceeds the standard limits may still get Medi-Cal through the Medically Needy program, but they pay a monthly Share of Cost first. It works like a monthly deductible: you accumulate qualifying medical expenses up to the Share of Cost amount, and once you hit it, Medi-Cal covers the rest of that month.
The calculation is your countable monthly income minus a fixed Maintenance Need Allowance of $600 for a single person or $934 for a couple. A single person with $1,800 in monthly income would have a Share of Cost of $1,200, meaning $1,200 in medical bills must stack up each month before Medi-Cal pays. For people with chronic conditions or frequent prescriptions, the program still offers meaningful protection against catastrophic costs.
Asset Limits Returned on January 1, 2026
Between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2025, California disregarded all assets when determining eligibility for every Medi-Cal program. That ended on January 1, 2026. Asset limits are now back for all non-MAGI programs, including Aged and Disabled Medi-Cal, Medicare Savings Programs, and long-term care coverage.6DHCS – CA.gov. Medi-Cal Eligibility Division Information Letter No. I26-03 MAGI eligibility for most adults under 65, children, and pregnant women remains asset-free.
The reinstated limits are far more generous than the old federal SSI resource limits. An individual can hold up to $130,000 in countable assets, with $65,000 added for each additional household member up to ten people.7DHCS – CA.gov. Asset Limit Frequently Asked Questions A couple’s limit is $195,000.8Department of Health Care Services. Proposed Trailer Bill Legislation Reinstatement of the Medi-Cal Asset Limit Fact Sheet Your primary home is generally exempt regardless of value; California is the only state with no home equity cap for home exemption.
Nursing Home Look-Back
If you need nursing home care, Medi-Cal now reviews any assets you transferred in the 30 months before entering a facility. Transfers made before January 1, 2026 are grandfathered and will not trigger a penalty. Transfers on or after that date made for less than fair market value may result in a penalty period during which Medi-Cal will not cover your nursing home stay.7DHCS – CA.gov. Asset Limit Frequently Asked Questions
Spousal Impoverishment Protections
When one spouse enters a nursing home and applies for Medi-Cal long-term care, the other spouse does not have to spend down to poverty. For 2026, the at-home spouse can keep between $32,532 and $162,660 in countable resources, depending on the couple’s total assets. The at-home spouse is also entitled to a minimum monthly income allowance of $2,643.75, which can rise to $4,066.50 if shelter costs are particularly high.9Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 2026 SSI and Spousal Impoverishment Standards If the at-home spouse’s own income falls below the minimum allowance, part of the nursing home spouse’s income is redirected to close the gap.
Immigration Status
Immigration status affects which pathway you qualify under, not whether income rules apply. Children and youth under 19, pregnant people through one year postpartum, and current or former foster youth under 26 remain eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal regardless of immigration status.10DHCS – CA.gov. Immigration Status and Changes to Medi-Cal Eligibility
For undocumented adults outside those protected groups, the rules changed on January 1, 2026. New applicants in this category are no longer eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal with full dental benefits. Adults who already had full-scope coverage before January 1, 2026 keep it, but starting July 1, 2026 their dental benefits shift to emergency-only. Beginning July 1, 2027, those adults will also face a premium requirement.10DHCS – CA.gov. Immigration Status and Changes to Medi-Cal Eligibility
How to Apply and Keep Your Coverage
You can apply online through Covered California, which routes you to Medi-Cal or subsidized private coverage based on your income. Paper applications are also accepted by mail or in person at your county social services office. Expect to provide proof of identity, California residency, and household income. Processing takes up to 45 days for most applicants, or up to 90 days when eligibility is based on a disability.11Department of Health Care Services. How Do I Apply?
Medi-Cal currently requires renewal every 12 months. The state first tries to verify your eligibility using available data without contacting you. If that automatic check comes up short, a renewal form will arrive in the mail and you have at least 30 days to respond. One change to flag: starting January 1, 2027, childless adults ages 19 through 64 will need to renew every six months rather than annually.12DHCS – CA.gov. Tracking Federal Impact: Medi-Cal Eligibility Keeping your address and phone number current with the county is the simplest way to avoid losing coverage you still qualify for.