Asset limits will return to California’s Medicaid, Medi-Cal, next year, and new enrollments are on pause for those lacking “satisfactory immigration status,” according to the state Department of Health Care Services.
While income is the only factor for Medicaid eligibility through the end of 2025, residents who are at least 65 years old, have a disability or are seeking long-term care will need to report assets in 2026. Assets include bank accounts, cash, property and vehicles — excluding the home one resides in, a single vehicle, household items and retirement accounts. For one person, the asset limit is $130,000, with the limit raising by $65,000 for each household member for up to 10 people. Income rules will remain the same.
Eligibility changes based on immigration status will not affect those who currently have Medi-Cal. However, new enrollments for “Californians aged 19 and older, who are not pregnant, who are undocumented and who qualified for full-scope Medi-Cal because of the state-funded Adult Expansions” will be subject to the freezes. California posted a breakdown of impacted immigration categories. If someone is currently covered but loses coverage over missing paperwork or a late renewal, they have 90 days to correct the issues and maintain enrollment.
The immigration parameters do not apply to income-eligible children and pregnant people, the latter of whom will get coverage throughout their whole pregnancy and one year after.
