To update your Medi-Cal information, report the change to your county Medi-Cal office within 10 days through BenefitsCal.com, by phone, by mail, or in person. The same 10-day rule applies whether you moved, changed jobs, added a household member, or picked up other health coverage.1Department of Health Care Services. All County Welfare Director Letter No 09-32 Reporting promptly keeps your coverage intact and prevents overpayments the county may later try to recover.
Changes You Have to Report
Medi-Cal eligibility turns mainly on income and household size, so any shift in either one matters. Report income changes when you start a new job, get a raise, lose a job, or begin receiving unemployment or Social Security. A bump in earnings does not automatically end your coverage, but unreported income can create overpayment issues down the line.
Household changes need reporting too: a new baby, a death in the family, a marriage or divorce, or someone moving into or out of your home. Each of these changes how many people your county counts in your household, which changes the income threshold applied to you. For a single adult in 2026, the monthly income limit is roughly $1,835 based on 138 percent of the federal poverty level, so small changes can shift eligibility.2U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ASPE. 2026 Poverty Guidelines: 48 Contiguous States
Beyond income and household, report any change of address, phone number, or email so your county can reach you. Report it too if you gain other health coverage like employer insurance or Medicare, because Medi-Cal coordinates with other programs and may adjust your benefits accordingly.3CA.gov. Medi-Cal Help Center
The 10-Day Deadline and What Verification Looks Like
You have 10 days from the date the change happens to report it. This applies to income, household composition, address updates, and any other circumstance that could affect eligibility.1Department of Health Care Services. All County Welfare Director Letter No 09-32 Missing the deadline does not automatically end your coverage, but it can lead to incorrect benefit levels or an overpayment the county tries to collect back.
In many cases the county will not ask you for documentation. Federal rules require California to check your reported information against electronic data sources first. If what you report is “reasonably compatible” with what the county can verify electronically, such as wage databases, the county must accept it without requesting pay stubs or other proof.4Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Financial Eligibility Verification Requirements and Flexibilities When the electronic data and your report do not line up, the county will send a notice asking for documents.
Four Ways to Report
Online Through BenefitsCal
BenefitsCal.com is the state’s main portal for Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and CalWORKs.5BenefitsCal. Home – BenefitsCal Together We Benefit Log in, select “Report a Change” from your dashboard, choose the type of change, and follow the prompts. You can report more than one change at a time. At the end you electronically sign the report and receive a confirmation receipt. Save or print that receipt in case a dispute comes up later.
By Phone
Call your local county Medi-Cal office directly, or call Covered California at (800) 300-1506.6Covered California. Contact Us If your case is managed through Covered California rather than your county, the Covered California line is the right starting point. Ask for a confirmation number or written confirmation of whatever you report.
By Mail
Mail a completed change form or a signed letter describing the change to your local county social services office. Include your name, case number, and the details. Mail is the slowest option, so consider tracking or delivery confirmation if the 10-day deadline is tight.7California Department of Health Care Services. Update Your Information
In Person
Visit your local county Medi-Cal office. This helps if you need someone to walk you through the forms or if the change is complicated. Bring any supporting documents you have, such as a new lease, a pay stub, or a birth certificate, so the caseworker can process the update on the spot.7California Department of Health Care Services. Update Your Information
Having Someone Else Report for You
If a disability, language barrier, or other reason keeps you from reporting changes yourself, you can appoint someone to act on your behalf. Fill out form MC 382, available from your county office, and specify whether the representative can handle all Medi-Cal duties or only certain ones. Reporting changes is one of the duties you can delegate. You can submit the form in person, by mail, by phone, or electronically, and you can cancel the appointment at any time.8Department of Health Care Services. MC 382 Authorized Representative Form
If You Move to a Different County
Medi-Cal is run at the county level, so moving across county lines transfers your case from the old county to the new one. California uses an intercounty transfer process that keeps benefits running without interruption. You do not need to reapply or go through a new eligibility determination just because you moved.9Department of Health Care Services. All County Welfare Director Letter – Medi-Cal Intercounty Transfers Report the address change within 10 days and the two counties will coordinate between themselves. You will get notices from both: one from the old county confirming the transfer out, and one from the new county confirming they received your case.
If your annual renewal happens to fall during the move and the old county closes your case because the renewal went unanswered, contact your new county within 30 days. The new county cannot force you to file a fresh application; they will help you finish the renewal and restore your coverage.9Department of Health Care Services. All County Welfare Director Letter – Medi-Cal Intercounty Transfers
What Happens After You Report
The county reviews the new information and decides whether your eligibility or benefits need adjusting. Straightforward updates like a new phone number or an address within the same county are processed quickly. For income or household changes that affect eligibility, the county may verify electronically or ask for documents like pay stubs or tax returns.10DHCS – CA.gov. FAQs – Keep Your Medi-Cal
After the review, the county sends a Notice of Action explaining the result. If nothing changes, you get a confirmation that coverage continues. If your benefits are being reduced, your share of cost is going up, or your coverage is ending, the Notice of Action must be mailed at least 10 calendar days before the change takes effect.11New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. 22 CA ADC 50179 – Notice of Action – Medi-Cal-Only Determinations or Redeterminations That 10-day window is your chance to appeal before the change hits.
If You Disagree With the Result
You can request a State Fair Hearing if you believe the county’s decision is wrong. You have 90 days from the date the Notice of Action is mailed to file. A good reason for missing that deadline, such as illness or a disability, may still let you file late.12DHCS – CA.gov. Medi-Cal Fair Hearing
Timing changes what happens to your benefits during the appeal. If you file the hearing request before the effective date of the adverse action, your benefits continue at the current level while you wait for a decision. This is called “aid paid pending,” and it keeps your coverage in place until a hearing officer rules.12DHCS – CA.gov. Medi-Cal Fair Hearing13eCFR. 42 CFR 431.230 – Maintaining Services The Notice of Action lists both the mailing date and the effective date. File before the effective date to preserve your benefits. If you file later, you can still appeal within 90 days, but your coverage may lapse while the appeal is pending.
You can request a hearing by phone, in writing, or online through the California Department of Social Services. An administrative law judge conducts the hearing, and you can represent yourself or bring someone to help.