The Income and Asset Eligibility Rules for Medi-Cal
- Elder Love USA
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
If you are age 65 or older, have a disability, or need long-term care, Medi-Cal will look at both your income and assets when you apply for or renew your coverage.
Income is the money you receive while assets are the things you own.
You can use the Medi-Cal eligibility tool to get an estimate of whether you or a loved one may qualify.
You can try the tool here: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/medi-cal/qualify/
Depending on your status, you may fall under the Modified Adjusted Gross Income Medi-Cal or the Non-Modified Adjusted Gross Income Program Rules
Modified Adjusted Gross Income Medi-Cal method uses Federal tax rules to decide if you qualify based on how you file taxes and your countable income.
Persons who do not qualify for Modified Adjusted Gross Income Medi-Cal, may qualify for Non-Modified Adjusted Gross Income which includes many special programs.
Category | Modified Adjusted Gross Income Medi-Cal | Non-Modified Adjusted Gross Income Medi-Cal |
Who is Eligible | • Adults 19 through 64 years old
• Parents and caretakers of minor children
• Children under 19 years old
• Pregnant individuals | • Adult aged 65 years or older • Adult or child in a long-term care facility • Person who gets Medicare • Parent/Caretaker • Blind or have a disability • Child under 21 • Pregnant individual • Relative of an age-eligible child |
Property Rules | • No property limits | • Must report and give proof of property such as vehicles, bank accounts, or rental homes • Limits to the amount of property in the household |
Income Limits
The Federal Poverty Line, also called the Federal Poverty Level or FPL, is a yearly income amount set by the federal government.
It is used to estimate whether a person or family has a low enough income to qualify for certain programs, including Medi-Cal. There are different Federal Poverty Level limits depending on the Medi-Cal program.
For example, some Medi-Cal programs use the 138% FPL income limit.
Example Based On The ACA New Adults Ages 19-64; and= FPL Program for Aged & Disabled
Family Size | Income Limit (138% FPL) |
1 | $21,597 |
2 | $29,187 |
3 | $36,777 |
4 | $44,367 |
5 | $51,957 |
6 | $59,547 |
7 | $67,137 |
8 | $74,727 |
9 | $82,317 |
10 | $89,907 |
11 | $97,497 |
12 | $105,087 |
Each extra person | Add $7,590 |
Income rules considers:
Wages and other income
Income from property:
Rent
Income from property you own (like rent or lease payments)
Asset Limits
Starting January 1, 2026, Medi-Cal looked at a person's assets to decide if they can get Medi-Cal.
Assets are things you own that have value.
These can include:
Bank accounts
Cash
Second vehicles
Second homes
Other financial resources, no matter where they are
These apply to:
65 or older
Have a disability
Live in a nursing home
Are in a family that makes too much money to qualify under federal tax rules
The asset limit is $130,000 for one person. For each additional household member, the limit increases by $65,000, up to 10 members can be in a household.
Not everyone in your home may count toward your family size. For example, adult children living with you aren’t included.
Some married couples or registered domestic partners may qualify for higher limits. Ask your county Medi-Cal office about Spousal Impoverishment (a rule that protects a spouse from losing all their assets).
You can spend or give away countable assets to stay under the limit. This won’t affect your Medi-Cal in most cases. To learn more about Medi-Cal visit: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal-resources/
Sources:
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