Medi-Cal Update for 2024
Beginning January 1, 2024, a new California law will allow adults ages 26 through 49 to qualify for full Medi-Cal, regardless of immigration status. All other Medi-Cal eligibility rules, including income limits, will still apply.
This initiative, called the Ages 26 through 49 Adult Expansion, is a result of the Department of Health Care Services (DCHS) working collaboratively with stakeholders, including the County Welfare Directors Association of California, county social services agencies, Covered California, consumer advocates, and other trusted advocates. Californians under the age of 26 or over 49 are already eligible for full Medi-Cal.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services do NOT consider receipt of health, food, and housing benefits as part of the public charge determination. Therefore, using Medi-Cal benefits (except for residential nursing home or mental health institution care) will NOT impact an individual’s immigration status or trigger an alert to federal authorities.
DCHS website has information in English and Spanish on Getting Medi-Cal and Keeping Your Medi-Cal at
https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/Pages/get-keep-medi-cal.aspx.
If one has been denied recently, they may be eligible now. If you did not know, local Medi-Cal offices review member's eligibility once a year or when they report changes to their household. Everyone's renewal date is different. Learn more on how to take action on keeping Medi-Cal coverage.
