Most California adults qualify for Medi-Cal if their household income is at or below 138% of the federal poverty level, which for 2026 works out to $22,025 a year for one person and $45,540 for a family of four.1Covered California. Program Eligibility by Federal Poverty Level for 2026 Children qualify at higher income levels, pregnant individuals have more generous thresholds still, and seniors and people with disabilities are evaluated under a separate set of Medi-Cal eligibility income limits that also considers assets. There is no asset test for most working-age adults and families.
2026 Income Limits for Adults and Families
Non-disabled adults ages 19 through 64 and families with children are evaluated using Modified Adjusted Gross Income, or MAGI. The ceiling for the adult expansion group is 138% of the federal poverty level. In 2026, that translates to the following annual household income limits:1Covered California. Program Eligibility by Federal Poverty Level for 2026
- Single adult: $22,025 per year
- Family of two: $29,813 per year
- Family of four: $45,540 per year
Children have their own, higher, income ceilings, and pregnant individuals qualify at more generous thresholds that also include immediate temporary coverage through presumptive eligibility at participating provider offices. If your income is above the adult limit but you have children in the household, run the numbers for the kids separately; a parent can be over the line while the children still qualify.
What Counts as Income Under MAGI
MAGI is the same income figure used on your federal tax return. Countable income includes wages, tips, self-employment earnings, taxable interest, and similar taxable sources. Certain tax adjustments reduce the figure, such as student loan interest deductions and retirement contributions reported on your return.
Household size matters as much as the dollar figure. Under MAGI, your household is everyone on your federal tax return, even relatives who aren’t applying for coverage themselves. A working parent claiming two children as dependents is a household of three for Medi-Cal purposes, and the income limit for a family of three, not a single adult, applies.
One point worth emphasizing: MAGI-based Medi-Cal has no asset or resource test. Savings accounts, retirement balances, home equity, and vehicles do not affect eligibility for adults and families evaluated under this pathway. Only income matters.
Income and Asset Rules for Seniors, Blind, and Disabled Applicants
If you’re 65 or older, blind, or have a qualifying disability, you’re evaluated under Non-MAGI rules instead. These rules use different income figures and, unlike MAGI, apply an asset test.
Income Limit
The monthly income limit for a single Non-MAGI applicant is approximately $1,836. For a married couple where both spouses apply, the combined limit is roughly $2,490 per month. Applicants over these thresholds may still get coverage through Share of Cost, described further down.
People already receiving Supplemental Security Income are enrolled in Medi-Cal automatically and don’t need to file a separate application.
Asset Limit
Asset testing was fully eliminated in California on January 1, 2024, but federal legislation in 2025 required states to bring it back. The current countable asset limits for Non-MAGI applicants are:2Department of Health Care Services. Asset Limit Frequently Asked Questions
- One person: $130,000 in countable assets
- Each additional household member: adds $65,000, up to 10 people
These caps are significantly higher than the pre-2022 limits, which sat around $2,000 for a single person. Not everything you own is counted. Your primary home, one vehicle, household furnishings, and certain other categories are typically excluded. Countable assets include bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and real property beyond your primary residence.2Department of Health Care Services. Asset Limit Frequently Asked Questions
Asset Transfer Penalties
Starting January 1, 2026, giving away assets for less than fair market value can trigger a penalty period during which Medi-Cal won’t cover certain long-term care services. The length of the penalty is calculated by dividing the value of the transfer by the average monthly cost of nursing home care. If you’re thinking about gifting property or money to family before applying, talk to an elder-law attorney first. The look-back period for these transfers can reach years into the past.
Share of Cost When Your Income Is Over the Limit
Being over the income limit doesn’t automatically shut you out. The Share of Cost program lets people with income above the threshold still get Medi-Cal by paying a monthly amount toward their own medical expenses before Medi-Cal begins paying.
Your Share of Cost is the difference between your net countable income and the maintenance need level for your household size. It functions like a monthly deductible. In a month where you receive no covered services, you owe nothing. In a month where you do, you pay your Share of Cost first, and Medi-Cal covers the rest. Someone with a $500 Share of Cost who incurs $8,000 in nursing home charges pays $500; Medi-Cal covers the remaining $7,500.
This pathway is most useful for people with recurring medical expenses or long-term care costs whose income puts them above the standard Non-MAGI limit.
Immigration Status Does Not Affect Income-Based Eligibility
California finished a multi-year expansion that removed immigration status as a barrier to full-scope Medi-Cal. Adults ages 26 through 49 became eligible for full-scope benefits regardless of status on January 1, 2024, completing coverage for every age group.3Department of Health Care Services. Ages 26 Through 49 Adult Full Scope Medi-Cal Expansion Any California resident who meets the income and categorical requirements can receive full Medi-Cal benefits.4Department of Health Care Services. Medi-Cal Immigrant Eligibility FAQs A Social Security number is not required for all applicants.
How to Apply If You Qualify
The fastest way to apply is online through BenefitsCal, the state’s benefits portal. You can create an account, save progress, and finish later. No interview is required for a health coverage application.5BenefitsCal. Application Process Overview If you’re unsure whether you fall into Medi-Cal or subsidized marketplace coverage, applying through Covered California routes you to whichever program fits. You can also apply on paper at your local county social services office, or by phone at 1-800-300-1506.
Have these ready before you start:
- A government-issued photo ID
- Social Security number, if you have one
- Proof of California residency, such as a utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement
- Income verification: recent pay stubs, your most recent federal tax return, and award letters for Social Security, unemployment, or disability
- Names, dates of birth, and relationships for everyone in your household, including people not applying
Report every income source and note upcoming changes such as seasonal work ending, a new job, or retirement. Errors and gaps in income reporting are the most common cause of processing delays.
What Happens After You Apply
Standard applications take up to 45 days to process. If your eligibility hinges on verifying a disability, the timeline extends to 90 days.6Department of Health Care Services. Medi-Cal Eligibility Requirements and How to Apply for Medi-Cal The county may write to request missing information; respond quickly to avoid pushing your decision past the standard timeline.
When the review is finished, you’ll receive a Notice of Action stating whether you were approved or denied, your effective date, any Share of Cost, and the benefits you’re entitled to.7Department of Health Care Services. Medi-Cal Notice of Action – Frequently Asked Questions If you disagree with the decision, the notice explains how to request a State Fair Hearing. If no letter arrives within 45 days (or 90 for disability-based claims), you can request a hearing based on the county’s failure to act.6Department of Health Care Services. Medi-Cal Eligibility Requirements and How to Apply for Medi-Cal
Ask specifically about retroactive eligibility if you had medical bills in the three months before applying. Medi-Cal can pay for covered services during that window if you would have qualified had you applied then, but you need to raise those earlier expenses yourself.8Legal Information Institute. California Code of Regulations Title 22 50197 – Retroactive Eligibility It won’t happen automatically.