What is the income limit for Medi-Cal 2026 over 65?

If your income is too high for free Medi-Cal, you can shop for discounted private health insurance through Covered California, or qualify for Medi-Cal through a "Share of Cost" program.

Options If Your Income Is Too High

• Covered California: This is the state’s official health insurance marketplace. If you make too much for regular Medi-Cal, you can get financial help and tax credits to lower the cost of a private plan. Losing Medi-Cal gives you a special window to sign up.
• Share of Cost Medi-Cal: If your income is just a bit over the limit (often for seniors or people with disabilities), you might qualify for a program with a "Share of Cost". This works like a monthly deductible. You pay your own medical bills up to a certain amount each month, and then Medi-Cal pays for the rest of your care.
• Working Disabled Program: If you have a disability and work, California lets you earn a higher income and still keep Medi-Cal, sometimes for little or no cost.
• Deductions and Adjustments: Make sure you report all tax deductions and household changes. Certain expenses or changes in tax filing can lower your countable income to fit the limits.

Yes, Social Security benefits generally count as income when determining eligibility for Medi-Cal. However, how it is counted depends entirely on the type of Social Security benefit you receive and the specific Medi-Cal program you are applying for.

The table below breaks down how different types of Social Security benefits affect your Medi-Cal eligibility:

Important Rules to Keep in Mind

• Tax Filers vs. Dependents: If you file a tax return, 100% of your Social Security income counts toward your Medi-Cal Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) calculation, even if that income isn’t federally taxable. If you are claimed as a tax dependent, your Social Security only counts if you are legally required to file a tax return yourself.
• The "Working Disabled" Exception: If you receive SSDI and are working (even just a few hours a month), you may want to look into the 250% California Working Disabled Program. Under this specific path, your SSDI check is completely ignored, allowing you to qualify even with a much higher household income.
• Reporting Changes: If your Social Security benefit amount changes or transitions (e.g., your SSDI converts to Retirement benefits), California law requires you to report this income shift to your local county Medi-Cal office.

You can have up to $130,000 in the bank for a single person and still qualify for Medi-Cal, provided you fall into specific non-MAGI categories.

Medi-Cal Asset Limits

• One person: $130,000 limit
• Two people / Couple: $195,000 limit ($130,000 plus $65,000 for the extra household member)
• Additional members: Adds $65,000 per extra household member (up to a maximum of 10 people).

Who Do Asset Limits Apply To?

Asset limits do not apply to everyone. You only face this bank account check if you:

• Are age 65 or older
• Have a disability (physical, mental, or developmental)
• Live in a nursing home
• Are in a family that makes too much money to qualify under standard federal rules (non-MAGI programs).

(Note: Standard MAGI-based Medi-Cal for most children, pregnant women, and lower-income adults under 65 does not count bank accounts or assets at all.)

What Counts and What Doesn't?

• Counted: Cash, bank accounts (checking and savings), investments, stocks, bonds, and second homes or secondary vehicles.
• Excluded (Not Counted): Your primary home, one primary vehicle, and household goods.
• You can check official updates and report asset details through the California Department of Health Care Services.

President Donald Trump's 2025 tax and budget legislation enacted federal cuts to Medicaid, which is leading to significant funding reductions and new restrictions for California's Medi-Cal program.

Impact on Medi-Cal

• Funding Reductions: Federal legislation is projected to cut Medicaid spending by roughly $1 trillion nationally over a decade, translating to an estimated loss of around $30 billion per year for Medi-Cal in California.
• Work and Eligibility Rules: The changes impose new 80-hour monthly work or community engagement requirements, more frequent six-month verification rules, and reduced retroactive coverage limits.
• Coverage Loss: Policy analysts and state reports (such as those from CalMatters) estimate that millions of residents could lose coverage or face stricter qualification limits due to these federal shifts and related administrative changes.
• Immigrant Eligibility: Federal rules have narrowed full-scope Medicaid definitions for certain non-citizens, though state adjustments have attempted temporary stopgap coverage for some impacted groups.

Further administrative actions by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) continue to roll out rules that expand these federal cuts.

To qualify for Medi-Cal as a senior aged 65 or older, you must meet specific California residency, income, and asset limits.

Basic Requirements

• Age: You must be 65 years of age or older (or meet the Social Security definition of disabled/blind).
• Residency: You must live in California and be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
• SSI Status: If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you are automatically eligible for Medi-Cal.

Income Limits

For non-SSI programs like the Aged & Disabled Federal Poverty Level (A&D FPL) program, your countable monthly gross income must be under specific thresholds (effective in 2026):

• Individual: Less than $1,836 per month.
• Couple: Less than $2,490 per month.
• If your income is higher, you may still qualify through the "Medically Needy" program by paying a monthly "Share of Cost" (similar to a deductible).

Asset Limits

California applies asset limits for senior non-MAGI Medi-Cal programs:

• Individual Asset Limit: $130,000
• Couple Asset Limit: $195,000
• Exempt Assets: Medi-Cal does not count your primary home, one vehicle, and personal belongings.

How to Apply

You can submit an application through several channels:

• Online: Visit Benefitscal.
• In Person or By Mail: Contact your Local Medi-Cal County Office to drop off or request a paper application.