California Medicaid (Medi-Cal): 2026 Income Limits, Eligibility & How to Apply
If you live in California and earn less than about $1,835 a month as a single person (or $3,795 as a family of four), you are likely within the 2026 income limit for Medi-Cal. Children, pregnant women and seniors have separate, usually higher, limits shown below.
California Medicaid guides for 2026
Income Limits
California Medicaid income limits for 2026 by household size: adults, children, pregnant women, seniors and people with disabilities. Monthly and annual figures.
Eligibility
Medicaid eligibility rules in California for 2026: income, assets, age, residency and citizenship requirements, plus how to check if you qualify.
Asset Limits
Asset and resource limits for Medicaid in California in 2026: what counts, what is exempt, and the limits for seniors, people with disabilities and couples.
How to Apply
Step-by-step guide to applying for Medicaid in California: online, phone and in-person options, documents you need, and how long approval takes.
Renewal
How Medicaid renewal (redetermination) works in California in 2026: deadlines, paperwork, income verification, and what to do if coverage is terminated.
Medicare Savings Programs
Income and asset limits for QMB, SLMB and QI Medicare Savings Programs in California for 2026, and how to apply for help with Medicare premiums.
Seniors & Long-Term Care
Medicaid long-term care eligibility in California for 2026: nursing home income cap, asset limits, spousal protections and the look-back period.
| Household size | Monthly income limit | Annual income limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $1,835 | $22,025 |
| 2 people | $2,489 | $29,863 |
| 3 people | $3,142 | $37,702 |
| 4 people | $3,795 | $45,540 |
| 5 people | $4,448 | $53,378 |
| 6 people | $5,101 | $61,217 |
| 7 people | $5,755 | $69,055 |
| 8 people | $6,408 | $76,894 |
Each additional person adds $653 per month. Figures use the 2026 federal poverty guidelines and are rounded to the nearest dollar.
Who runs Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal is administered by the California Department of Health Care Services under federal rules set by CMS. Children in families over the Medicaid limit are covered by Medi-Cal for Kids, the state CHIP program. Applications are free and can be submitted any day of the year.