Jan. 1, 2026: As a result of the state’s budget bill passed in June 2025 and the federal government’s H.R. 1, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law in July 2025, changes to Medi-Cal and CalFresh eligibility rules will begin to take effect on various dates starting Jan. 1, 2026. The new rules will include additional eligibility requirements, reduced benefits or potential ineligibility for certain populations. Both current recipients and future applicants will be impacted by these changes.
- Effective Jan. 1, 2026, undocumented adult immigrants will no longer be eligible to apply for full scope Medi-Cal, only limited scope. Limited Scope Medi-Cal provides coverage for specific, essential health needs, primarily emergency services and pregnancy-related care, for individuals who meet most Medi-Cal eligibility requirements.
- Also starting Jan. 1, 2026, Medi-Cal reinstates asset limits for certain programs, setting them at $130,000 for an individual, plus $65,000 for each additional household member, up to ten people. This affects non-expansion programs for the Aged, Blind, Disabled, Long-Term Care, and those with a Share of Cost. For new applicants, assets must be reported now; current beneficiaries report at their next annual renewal after Jan 1, 2026, with key exempt assets including your home, one vehicle, household goods, and retirement accounts.
Please visit the following State of California website for more information on these and other benefit changes that are slated to take place over the next few years.
Medi-Cal Changes per California Department of Health Care Services
CalFresh Changes per California Department of Social Services