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As of January 1, 2026, new Medi-Cal and CalFresh rules have been going into effect for both applicants and recipients. The information below is intended to help you understand these changes. Please check this page regularly as details about the new rules and effective dates are based on state and federal guidance and subject to change.
Apply for Medi-Cal or CalFresh
Medi-Cal/CalFresh Application Checklist
Community Resources
Coalition of Orange County Community Health Centers
Regional Office Resource Guides
Medi-Cal: Dental Coverage Changes (July 1, 2027)
The effective date for the Medi-Cal Dental Benefit Changes has been delayed to July 1, 2027.
Starting July 1, 2027, individuals with unsatisfactory immigration status older than 19 will no longer receive full dental coverage through Medi-Cal. They will continue to receive emergency services to stop severe pain, or diagnose and treat sudden serious medical problems, including injuries to the face or jaw, infection in gums or teeth, or broken or knocked-out teeth.
Recipients can keep their full dental coverage if they:
- Are younger than 19
- Are pregnant and up to one year postpartum
- Are younger than 26 and were in foster care on their 18th birthday
- Medi-Cal recipients with satisfactory immigration status
Those impacted are strongly encouraged to visit their dentist by June 30, 2027. Anyone who needs dental resources can visit 211oc.org or call 2-1-1.
DHCS Webpage | Communications Toolkit
Medi-Cal: Six-Month Renewals (March 1, 2027)
Starting March 1, 2027, some Medi-Cal members will have their eligibility checked twice a year instead of once.
Who this applies to
- Adults ages 19-64 who get Medi-Cal through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expansions, including those affected by the immigrant-related changes listed earlier.
Who this does not apply to
These members will continue to renew once a year:
- People not in the ACA new adult group
- Pregnant or postpartum people
- Alaska Native or American Indian members
- People under age 26 who were in foster care on their 18th birthday
Important to know
- If you miss deadlines, you could lose your Medi-Cal coverage.
For more information, click here.
Medi-Cal: Retroactive Medi-Cal Coverage Change (January 1, 2027)
Starting January 1, 2027, Medi-Cal will pay for fewer months of medical bills from before you applied. If this rule applies to you, Medi-Cal will send you a letter.
Who this applies to
- Adults ages 19-64 without children ages 0-18
Important to know
New rules:
- Adults without children: Medi-Cal will pay for one month of past medical bills.
- Everyone else: Medi-Cal will pay for two months of past medical bills.
Medi-Cal: Work and Community Engagement Rule (January 1, 2027)
Starting January 1, 2027, some adults will need to work, volunteer, go to school, or be in training to get or keep their Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal will send you a letter if this applies to you.
Who this applies to
- Adults ages 19-64 who get Medi-Cal through the Affordable Care Act expansions, including adults covered under the new rules for immigrants.
Who this does not apply to
These work or volunteer rules do not apply to:
- Children (0–18)
- Adults 65 and older
- Pregnant people (during pregnancy and one year after)
- Parents and caregivers of children ages 0-13
- People with disabilities
- People with serious physical or mental health conditions, or substance use problems
- People released from jail or prison in the last 90 days
- People on Medicare Part A or Part B
- American Indians or Alaska Natives
- People under age 26 who were in foster care on their 18th birthday
The County of Orange Social Services Agency will tell you if you need to follow the work rules or if you need to provide more information to show you qualify for an exemption.
Important to know
Members must do one or more of the following:
- Work at a job and earn at least $580 a month
- Be a seasonal worker and earn an average of $580 a month over the last six months
- Be in a job training program (that helps you learn skills to get a job) for at least 80 hours a month
- Volunteer or do community service for at least 80 hours a month
- Go to school at least half-time (usually two or three classes, or about six to eight credits each semester)
- Do a mix of the activities above so the total is at least 80 hours a month or at least $580 amonth
If you are required to meet the rules and do not, you could lose your Medi-Cal.
When you get a letter from Medi-Cal or the County of Orange Social Services Agency, open it right away and respond quickly.
Medi-Cal will send more information before this rule starts, including ways to help you meet the rules.
For more information, click here.
CalOptima Medi-Cal Changes Toolkit
Medi-Cal: Transition to Fee-For-Service (January 1, 2027)
Starting January 1, 2027, some members will get their care through Fee-for-Service (FFS) Medi-Cal instead of a health plan. This changes how you get care, not whether you can keep Medi-Cal.
Who this applies to
- People who are undocumented.
- Some people with green cards who are in the five-year waiting period before they can get full-scope federal Medicaid.
- People considered Permanently Residing in the U.S. Under Color of Law (PRUCOL), meaning they are allowed to stay in the U.S. even without formal immigration status.
Visit Immigration Status and Medi‑Cal Changes to see if this applies to you.
Important to Know
- You will stay covered if you renew on time.
- You will not be in a health plan any more. Instead, you can go to any doctor or clinic that accepts FFS Medi-Cal.
- “Fee-for-Service” does not mean you pay. Medi-Cal still pays for your care.
- Specialty mental health and substance use treatment will continue through County Behavioral Health Plans.
- Your medicines will still be covered by Medi-Cal Rx.
- Dental care is not changing for most members.
- Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports (services only available in health plans) will not continue in FFS Medi-Cal.
- Other help is still available, like Community Health Workers, chronic care management, doula services, and county mental health programs.
- DHCS will offer new help during this change, including a nurse advice line and community navigators to guide you and answer questions.
- You will get more information before the change begins.
For more information, click here.
CalFresh: Work and Community Engagement Requirements (June 1, 2026)
The federal government’s rules on CalFresh work requirements have changed. As of June 1, 2026, certain people must meet CalFresh work and community engagement requirements to get or keep their CalFresh benefits.
These rules apply to you if you:
- Are between the ages of 18 and 64;
- Do not have a disability; and
- Do not have a dependent child under 14 years old.
Some people may be excused from these rules, see below for more information.
What are the general CalFresh work requirements?
The general CalFresh work requirements apply to people between the ages of 16 and 59 who are able to work. The general CalFresh work requirements are known as work registration in California. If you are subject to work registration rules you must take a suitable job if offered and not voluntarily quit a job or reduce your work hours below 30 hours each week without a good reason if you are working.
You can be excused from work registration if you are:
- Younger than age 16, or age 60 or older.
- Caring for a dependent child under age 6 (they do not have to live with you).
- Caring for a person with a disability (they do not have to live with you).
- Earning at least $217.50 a week before taxes or working at least 30 hours a week.
- Getting or applying for unemployment benefits.
- Getting or applying for disability benefits from any source (disability benefits include, but are not limited to pensions, workers’ compensation, disability insurance, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, and veteran’s benefits).
- Disabled.
- Going to school, college, or a training program at least half-time (additional student eligibility rules may apply).
- Meeting the work rules for another program, like CalWORKs.
- In a drug or alcohol abuse treatment program
What is the ABAWD Work Requirement and what does it mean for me?
The ABAWD work requirement is a federal rule. People who are considered ABAWDs can only get 3 full months of CalFresh benefits every 3 years. ABAWDs may get benefits for longer than 3 months if they are working, excused from the work requirement, or are living in a county that is waived from the work requirement.
The ABAWD work requirement applies to you if you:
- Are between the ages of 18 and 64 years old;
- Do not have a dependent child under 14 years old;
- Are considered physically and mentally able to work at least 20 hours per week; and
- Are not excused from the rule.
If the ABAWD work requirement applies to you, you will need to have a job, volunteer, or be enrolled in school or a job training program. If you’re working, you must work an average of 20 hours each week or earn $217.50 per week before taxes.
If you’re in school or a training program, you must have total class time of 20 hours each week or be enrolled at least half-time.
If you do not meet this requirement, you will only be able to get CalFresh benefits for three months over a three-year period. The county can help connect ABAWDs with local work opportunities in the area to meet the ABAWD work requirement.
Additionally, some CalFresh recipients who were previously excused from these rules will now also have to meet work requirements to continue to get CalFresh benefits unless they can be excused for a different reason.
This new group includes CalFresh recipients who are:
- Aged 55-64 years old;
- Parents whose youngest child is 14 or older;
- Experiencing homelessness;
- Veterans,
- Currently or were in foster care on their 18th birthday.
How can I be excused from the ABAWD work requirement?
You may be excused from the ABAWD work requirement if you are:
- Under age 18 or over age 64
- A parent or responsible for a dependent child under the age of 14
- You are excused from the general CalFresh work requirements
- Unable to work at least 20 hours per week or a total of 80 hours or more per month because of a physical or mental health issue.
- Unable to work because you are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction or a victim of domestic violence or experiencing chronic homelessness. The condition must be tied to a physical or mental health issue.
- Pregnant (any stage of pregnancy).
- Identify as an Indian, Urban Indian or California Indian under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA).
- Participating in an Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) training program for at least half-time.
- Living in an area where the ABAWD work requirement is waived.
Related Forms
- CF 886: Includes list of CalFresh exemptions
- CF 888: Volunteer Verification Form
- CF 887: CalFresh Medical Certification Form
Press Release | Work Resource Flyer | Communications Toolkit | CDSS Screening Tool
CalFresh: Changes to Noncitizen Eligibility (April 1, 2026)
Beginning on April 1, 2026, the following categories of lawfully present immigrants are no longer eligible for CalFresh:
- Asylees
- Refugees
- Parolees (unless they are Cuban and Haitian Entrants)
- Individuals with deportation or removal withheld
- Conditional entrants
- Victims of trafficking
- Battered noncitizens
- Iraqi or Afghan with Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) who are not Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)
- Certain Afghan Nationals granted parole between July 31, 2021, and September 30, 2023
- Certain Ukrainian Nationals granted parole between February 24, 2022, and September 30, 2024
This change will be implemented for existing CalFresh households at their next recertification following April 1, 2026.
Non-U.S. Citizen Glossary | Communications Toolkit
Medi-Cal: Asset Limits (January 1, 2026)
As of January 1, 2026, Medi-Cal has changed the amount of certain assets (things you own that have value) you can own when you apply or renew. Income rules have not changed.
Who this applies to
You may be affected 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 federal tax rules
Important to know
Through June 30, 2027:
- The most you can own (asset limit) is $130,000 for one person
- Add $65,000 for every extra person in your house (up to 10 people)
Starting July 1, 2027, the asset limit is:
- $21,000 for one person
- $31,000 for two people
- Add $1,550 for every extra person in your house (up to 10 people)
Assets that count include:
- Bank accounts
- Cash
- More than one house or vehicle
Assets that don’t count include:
- The home you live in
- One vehicle
- Household items
- Some savings, like retirement accounts
See the Help Center for more information.
Press Release | Communications Toolkit
Medi-Cal: Full-Scope Enrollment Freeze (January 1, 2026)
As of January 1, 2026, some adults can no longer sign up for full-scope Medi-Cal coverage because of their immigration status.
Who this applies to
- Visit Immigration Status and Medi‑Cal Changes to see if this applies to you.
Important to know
- If you already have full-scope Medi-Cal, you can keep it, no matter your immigration status.
- You must renew on time and still meet Medi-Cal rules.
- If your Medi-Cal ends, you have three months to sign up again.
- If you miss the three-month period, you must apply again. You will only be able to get restricted-scope Medi-Cal, which covers:
- Emergency care
- Pregnancy care
- Nursing home care
Who can still get full-scope Medi-Cal, no matter their immigration status
- Children ages 0-18
- Pregnant people (during pregnancy and for one year after)
- People under age 26 who were in foster care on their 18th birthday
Press Release | Communications Toolkit
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