California Medicaid goes by a different name here: Medi-Cal. California Medicaid income limits for most adults ages 19–64, the number that matters is 138% of the Federal Poverty Level. In 2026, that’s $22,025 a year — about $1,836 a month — for one person. For a household of four, it’s $45,540 a year, or roughly $3,795 monthly.
There’s no single Medi-Cal income limit that covers everyone. Children, pregnant people, seniors, people with disabilities, Medicare beneficiaries, and people who need long-term care each fall under their own rules.
2026 Medi-Cal Income Limits at 138% FPL
| Household size | Annual income | Approx. monthly income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $22,025 | $1,836 |
| 2 | $29,864 | $2,490 |
| 3 | $37,702 | $3,143 |
| 4 | $45,540 | $3,795 |
| 5 | $53,379 | $4,449 |
| 6 | $61,217 | $5,101 |
| 7 | $69,056 | $5,755 |
| 8 | $76,894 | $6,408 |
| 9 | $84,732 | $7,061 |
| 10 | $92,571 | $7,714 |
These numbers come straight from the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) 2026 FPL calculation chart. The monthly figures are rounded from the annual amounts — your real eligibility determination depends on your specific Medi-Cal category and the financial methodology that applies to it.
Why You May See Different 2026 Medi-Cal Income Limits Online
Some sites are still running older figures — $21,597 for one person, $44,367 for four. The dedicated DHCS 2026 FPL chart says otherwise: $22,025 and $45,540 at 138% FPL. That mismatch usually happens because a page never got updated, or it’s pulling from a different FPL version altogether.
Go with the current 138% figures: $22,025 for one person, $29,864 for two, $37,702 for three, $45,540 for four. Since Medi-Cal rules shift by category and effective date, confirm your own number with DHCS or your county Medi-Cal agency before you act on it.
You can also Compare Your State’s Medicaid Rules Before You Apply
Who Can Qualify for Medi-Cal?
Medi-Cal isn’t one program — it’s several, layered together. Your income limit depends heavily on which group you fall into.
| Applicant | Typical pathway | Financial rules |
|---|---|---|
| Adults 19–64 | MAGI Medi-Cal | 138% FPL is a major benchmark |
| Children | MAGI/child programs | Higher income thresholds may apply |
| Pregnant people | Pregnancy-related Medi-Cal | Different income rules may apply |
| Seniors 65+ | Non-MAGI or other pathways | Category-specific rules; assets may matter |
| People with disabilities | Non-MAGI or specialized programs | Assets may apply |
| Medicare beneficiaries | Medi-Cal/MSP pathways | Program-specific income and asset rules |
| Long-term-care applicants | Non-MAGI pathways | Specialized financial rules |
Being over 138% FPL doesn’t automatically shut the door. It just means you’re not looking at the standard adult pathway.
MAGI vs. Non-MAGI Medi-Cal
What Is MAGI Medi-Cal?
MAGI stands for Modified Adjusted Gross Income. It’s the financial methodology behind many of the Medi-Cal programs tied to the Affordable Care Act and tax-based eligibility. If you’re a working adult applying through this pathway, your household composition and income carry real weight.
What Is Non-MAGI Medi-Cal?
Non-MAGI pathways apply when eligibility hinges on something other than income alone — age, disability, Medicare status, or a need for long-term care. These programs run on different financial rules entirely. Comparing your income to 138% FPL here can give you the wrong answer. Don’t treat “138% FPL” as a universal cutoff. It isn’t one.
Also California Medicaid reimbursement rates
Does Medi-Cal Count Your Savings?
For most MAGI Medi-Cal applicants, ordinary savings generally sit outside the financial test used for MAGI eligibility. That changed for certain categories in 2026.
Starting January 1, 2026, DHCS began counting assets for specific groups: people 65 or older, people with disabilities, nursing home residents, and certain applicants whose eligibility isn’t based on federal tax methods.
2026 Medi-Cal Asset Limit
Through June 30, 2027, here’s the limit:
- $130,000 for one person
- Add $65,000 for each additional household member
- Caps out at 10 people under the specified rule
Cash, bank accounts, a second vehicle, a second home — these can all count as assets. A primary home and primary vehicle are typically excluded.
Income and assets are separate tests. $20,000 in annual income and $20,000 in savings mean two very different things for Medi-Cal eligibility.
What Income Counts for Medi-Cal?
It depends on which methodology applies to your case. Sources that can factor in:
- Wages and salary
- Self-employment income
- Social Security
- Retirement income
- Pension payments
- Investment income
- Rental income
- Unemployment benefits
Some income types get special treatment. SSI, for instance, isn’t handled the same way as SSDI or other Social Security benefits.
Self-employed? Don’t assume your total business revenue counts as your income. Deductions and the applicable financial methodology change that number.
Can You Get Medi-Cal While Working?
Yes. A paycheck doesn’t disqualify you on its own. What matters is how your household income compares against the rules for your specific Medi-Cal category.
Some programs exist specifically for working people with disabilities — California’s Working Disabled Program, for one, runs on its own financial requirements and lets eligible workers with disabilities access Medi-Cal through a specialized pathway.
Can Children Qualify If Their Parents Make Too Much?
Yes — and this trips people up constantly. Children fall under eligibility categories with income thresholds that look nothing like the standard adult 138% FPL pathway.
A family shouldn’t assume everyone gets the same answer. One kid might land on Medi-Cal while a parent ends up on a Covered California plan instead.
What About Pregnancy?
Pregnancy opens up its own Medi-Cal pathway, with its own income rules. Don’t run the numbers against the standard 138% FPL figure if you’re pregnant — it’s the wrong test. California’s pregnancy-related Medi-Cal programs work differently.
Immigration status factors in too. DHCS confirms that pregnant people and their infants can receive full-scope Medi-Cal during pregnancy and for a full year after the pregnancy ends, regardless of immigration status, subject to the program’s applicable rules.
Does Medi-Cal Income Eligibility Vary by County?
The statewide FPL thresholds stay fixed. Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, San Francisco, Sacramento, Riverside, Fresno, Alameda, Santa Clara — the income math doesn’t change based on zip code.
County administration is where things diverge. Your county Medi-Cal agency handles eligibility processing, documentation, renewals, and application help. Managed-care plan options and local administrative setups can look different from one county to the next.
So “Medi-Cal office near me” searches matter — just after you’ve nailed down the statewide financial rules, not before.
What Happens If Your Income Is Too High?
Landing above the standard adult threshold doesn’t mean you’re out of options. Depending on your situation, alternatives include:
- Another Medi-Cal eligibility category
- Covered California
- Employer-sponsored health insurance
- Medicare
- Medicare Savings Programs
- Specialized disability-related programs
- Pregnancy or child eligibility pathways
Which one fits depends on income, age, family makeup, immigration status, Medicare status — the full picture, not just one number.
2026 Immigration Changes
Immigration status runs on a separate track from income, but it still shapes eligibility. As of January 1, 2026, certain adults 19 and older without satisfactory immigration status can no longer newly enroll in full-scope Medi-Cal under the adult expansion.
People already enrolled can generally keep their coverage as long as they still qualify and renew on time. There are real exceptions here — children, pregnant people, and certain foster youth are protected. Immigration status isn’t a simple yes-or-no filter, so don’t treat it like one.
How to Determine Whether You May Qualify
Work through this in order:
- Determine your household size.
- Identify your eligibility category.
- Determine the applicable income methodology.
- Calculate the income Medi-Cal actually counts.
- Compare it against the relevant FPL or program threshold.
- Check whether an asset test applies.
- Review other eligibility requirements.
- Apply through the right California channel.
If you’re pregnant, under 19, 65 or older, disabled, on Medicare, or need long-term care — don’t stop at step five. There’s more to check.
Real-Life Examples
Example 1: Single Working Adult
A single adult earns roughly $1,700 a month. The 2026 138% FPL figure for one person comes out to about $1,836 monthly, based on the annual DHCS figure of $22,025. Worth a closer look at the adult MAGI pathway.
Example 2: Family of Four
Annual household income: $43,000. The 2026 138% FPL benchmark for four people sits at $45,540. This household may fall within range for a MAGI category — though an official determination is still the only way to know for sure.
Example 3: Senior With Substantial Savings
A 67-year-old has income below the relevant threshold but significant assets on top of it. The standard 138% FPL adult test isn’t the right one here. Because this person is 65 or older, the non-MAGI rules and the 2026 asset requirements come into play instead.
How to Apply for Medi-Cal
California residents apply through the state’s benefits system and their county office. Before you start, pull together:
- Household members
- Current income
- Employer and wage information
- Social Security or retirement information
- Immigration documentation, when applicable
- Tax-household information
- Asset information, if an asset test applies
If your income changes down the line, report it according to your case’s requirements. Don’t assume an old eligibility decision just keeps rolling forward on its own.
FAQs About California Medicaid income limits
What Is the Medi-Cal Income Limit in California in 2026?
For the standard 138% FPL benchmark, it’s $22,025 a year for one person and $45,540 for four. Other categories run on different thresholds entirely.
What Is the Medi-Cal Income Limit for One Person?
$22,025 a year, or about $1,836 a month. That’s the adult MAGI benchmark — not a blanket limit for every Medi-Cal program.
What Is the Medi-Cal Income Limit for a Family of Four?
$45,540 annually, roughly $3,795 a month.
Does Medi-Cal Count Savings?
Depends on the program. Certain categories now carry asset tests in 2026 — $130,000 for one person, plus $65,000 per additional household member.
Can I Get Medi-Cal If I Work Full Time?
Possibly. Employment alone doesn’t disqualify you. Income, household size, and program category decide the outcome.
Can My Child Qualify for Medi-Cal If I Do Not?
Yes. Kids run on different income rules than adults, so don’t assume the whole household gets one answer.
Does Social Security Count as Income?
Sometimes. It depends on which type of Social Security payment you’re receiving and which methodology applies to your case. Not all Social Security income gets treated the same way.
Does Medi-Cal Eligibility Change by County?
The core statewide FPL benchmarks hold steady everywhere. County agencies just handle the administration, and coverage arrangements can look different locally.
What If My Income Is Slightly Above 138% FPL?
Don’t assume you’re locked out. Check whether another category fits — especially if you’re pregnant, have kids, are 65 or older, have a disability, or need long-term care.
What Is the Difference Between Medi-Cal and Covered California?
Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program. Covered California is the state’s health insurance marketplace. Different members of the same household can end up on different programs, depending on their circumstances.
Conclusion
California’s Medicaid income limits aren’t one number — they’re a web of program-specific rules that depend on who you are, not just what you earn. For 2026, the standard 138% FPL benchmark is $22,025 for one person and $45,540 for four. Everything else — pregnancy, age, disability, Medicare, long-term care — branches off from there.
Figure out your household size, your category, your countable income, and your assets if they apply. Then take it to DHCS or your county Medi-Cal agency for the real answer. That’s the only determination that actually counts.
Official Resources
- Check Your Medi-Cal Eligibility — California DHCS
- Apply for Benefits Online — BenefitsCal
- Find Your County Medi-Cal Office — California DHCS
- Compare Health Coverage Options — Covered California
Disclaimer: This guide provides general details and is not legal, financial, or benefits-eligibility advice. Medi-Cal rules can change, and individual eligibility depends on your circumstances. Always verify your eligibility and applicable limits with California DHCS or your county Medi-Cal agency.
About Naseer
Naseer has 10+ years of experience creating informative content and researching medicare topics. He focuses on simplifying Medicaid and benefits details to support readers find clear, reliable, and easy-to-understand guidance.