Important Changes to Medi-Cal Eligibility

Mendocino County - Effective January 1, 2026, Medi-Cal eligibility changes may affect numerous Mendocino County residents.

Medi-Cal will once again consider assets (what a member owns) when reviewing eligibility for older adults and people with disabilities as part of the application and renewal process. This will affect Medi-Cal members and applicants whose eligibility is based on age (65+), disability (physical, mental, or developmental), or long-term care needs.

Important details to take notice of include:

• The asset limit is $130,000 for one person. Each additional household member adds $65,000 to the asset limit, up to 10 members per household.
• Assets include bank accounts, cash, and anything over one home and one vehicle.
• Some assets don’t count, like the home you live in, one vehicle, household items, and certain savings, like retirement accounts.
• If you are already a Medi-Cal member, your assets will be reviewed at your annual renewal. The income rules are not changing.

Effective January 1, 2026, Medi-Cal will freeze new enrollments for certain adults who do not have  satisfactory immigration status for federal full scope Medi-Cal. This group will no longer be able to newly enroll in full-scope Medi-Cal.

• If you are already enrolled in full scope Medi-Cal, you will stay covered no matter your immigration status as long as you complete your annual renewal and meet all other aspects of eligibility. Make sure to renew and use your benefits!
• If you are part of this group and lose your coverage, you won’t be able to sign up again—except for emergency and pregnancy care.
• If your coverage stops because of a late renewal or missing paperwork, you will have 90 days to fix it and stay enrolled.
• Income-eligible children (0-18) and pregnant people can enroll in full scope Medi-Cal, no matter their immigration status. Coverage is for the entire pregnancy and one year after the pregnancy ends.

For more information, please contact Mendocino County Department of Social Services or call (707) 463-7700 in Ukiah and (707) 962-1000 in Fort Bragg.

# # #

 Download Press Release HERE.