Medi-Cal Income Limits by Household Size (2026)

2026 Medi-Cal monthly income limits by household size

The table below is DHCS's published MAGI income chart for 2026, showing the monthly limit at each percentage of the Federal Poverty Level that Medi-Cal uses. A household exactly at the limit still qualifies; $1 over does not.

The four columns aren't four separate programs to choose between — they're the thresholds DHCS applies depending on who in the household is being screened. An adult 19-64 is measured against the 138% column, a child 0-18 against the 266% column, and a pregnant applicant against either the 213% (full-scope) or 322% (MCAP) column depending on where their income falls.

What counts as income (MAGI)

Medi-Cal uses MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) — roughly the income reported on your federal tax return, including wages, self-employment income, and most taxable unearned income. Some income is excluded even though it shows up in your life: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments and child support you receive don't count toward the Medi-Cal limit.

Because the test uses MAGI rather than gross pay, two households with the same paycheck can land on different sides of the limit once above-the-line deductions and excluded income are applied. If you're not sure how a specific type of income is treated, the safest move is to apply and let a county eligibility worker make the determination rather than guess.

Who counts in your household

Generally the people on your tax return: you, your spouse if you have one, and anyone you claim as a tax dependent. A pregnant household member is counted as herself plus the number of children she's expecting, so a single pregnant applicant with no other dependents is a household of 2 (3 for twins), which also raises the income limit used for everyone else in that household.

This matters because the income limit itself moves with household size — the same income might qualify a household of four but not a household of two. Getting the household count right, including any expected children, is usually the single biggest factor in which column of the table above applies.

Pregnant people and children get higher limits

Yes. Children 0-18 qualify at a higher percentage of the Federal Poverty Level than adults, and pregnancy has two thresholds: a full-scope Medi-Cal limit, and a higher limit for the Medi-Cal Access Program (MCAP), which covers pregnancies whose income is just above the full-scope cutoff. Once approved, pregnancy-related coverage continues through the rest of the pregnancy and for a full year after delivery regardless of income changes during that period.

In practice, this means a pregnant applicant whose income is too high for full-scope Medi-Cal shouldn't assume they're out of options — MCAP exists specifically to cover the income band just above the full-scope cutoff, at a low, income-based cost.

Seniors and people with disabilities have a different test

Not for the MAGI programs (adults, children, pregnancy) in the table above — those are income-only tests. For applicants who are 65 or older, blind, or have a disability, Medi-Cal is instead determined under non-MAGI rules, which include a resource (asset) test reinstated starting January 1, 2026: $130,000 in countable assets for one person, plus $65,000 for each additional household member.

Because the asset test sits outside the income table above, an applicant who is 65+ or has a disability can be income-eligible on paper and still need a full non-MAGI determination from their county before they know whether they qualify. Applying is still the right first step; a county eligibility worker runs the asset test as part of the same application.

If you're over the limit: Covered California

Income above the Medi-Cal limit for your household doesn't mean no coverage — it usually means Covered California instead, which runs on a higher income scale and can pair a marketplace health plan with a premium tax credit. The dollar thresholds for that program change independently of Medi-Cal's, so check them directly with the Covered California Subsidy Calculator rather than assuming last year's numbers still apply.

Households that include both Medi-Cal-eligible and Covered California-eligible members are common and normal — a family doesn't need everyone to qualify for the same program to get everyone covered.

Immigration status and the 2026 enrollment freeze

Children 0-18 and pregnant people can get full-scope Medi-Cal regardless of immigration status. But starting January 1, 2026, undocumented adults 19+ who were not already enrolled in full-scope Medi-Cal by December 31, 2025 can no longer enroll in full-scope coverage — restricted-scope coverage (medically necessary emergency services and pregnancy-related care) is what's available to new adult applicants in that group. Effective the same date, long-term care (skilled nursing facility) coverage was also eliminated for undocumented adults 19+, regardless of when they enrolled, except for treatment of an emergency medical condition. Full-scope coverage for adults already enrolled before the freeze date otherwise continues.

If this applies to your household, it's still worth applying: restricted-scope coverage remains available, and household members who are children, pregnant, or otherwise unaffected by the freeze can still be screened for full-scope coverage on the same application.

Households already receiving CalFresh or CalWORKs

If your household already receives CalWORKs cash aid, you're generally issued Medi-Cal automatically as part of that case — no separate income test against the table above. CalFresh (food assistance) eligibility is determined separately and doesn't automatically confer Medi-Cal, but the two programs share a lot of the same paperwork, so it's usually worth checking both. Our CalFresh Benefit Estimator and CalWORKs Benefit Estimator can tell you where each program's own limits fall for your household.

Run your numbers

The table above tells you the limit; it doesn't tell you which program your specific household lands in once you factor in ages, pregnancy, and non-MAGI screening. The Medi-Cal Eligibility Calculator walks through household size, income, and who needs coverage, and flags when a non-MAGI asset check applies instead of a straight income comparison.

This article is for general information only and is not affiliated with DHCS or Covered California. Household composition, deductions, and non-MAGI asset rules can change the correct answer for your specific situation — apply at coveredca.com or through your county for an official determination.