Federal Medi-Cal eligibility changes take effect Oct. 1; LA County urges beneficiaries to act

Federal rules that redefine certain immigration statuses take effect Oct. 1, 2026; the change will affect whether some adults can keep federally funded full‑scope Medi‑Cal, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services said.

As of June 2026, more than 3.1 million people receive Medi‑Cal in Los Angeles County; about 365,250 noncitizens are identified as having Satisfactory Immigration Status. The county said the number of people specifically affected by the amended definition of Qualified Non‑Citizens is not yet available.

DPSS said certain groups will remain eligible for federally funded full‑scope Medi‑Cal if they meet other eligibility rules. The county listed groups not affected: certain Cuban and Haitian entrants; people from the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau covered by the Compacts of Free Association; and Lawful Permanent Residents who have satisfied the five‑year waiting period or are otherwise exempt from it.

For other Qualified Non‑Citizens, DPSS said federal funding eligibility may change. The county identified immigration categories that may be impacted: Lawful Permanent Residents who have not met the five‑year waiting period and do not qualify for an exemption; refugees; asylees; Amerasian immigrants; individuals granted withholding of deportation or removal; conditional entrants admitted before April 1980; individuals paroled into the United States for one year or more; battered noncitizens and their parents or children; victims of human trafficking; and individuals granted humanitarian parole, including certain Afghan nationals who assisted U.S. operations in Afghanistan and people fleeing the war in Ukraine.

DPSS said individuals who remain eligible can receive state‑funded full‑scope Medi‑Cal through June 30, 2027. The county said beneficiaries will transition to Fee‑for‑Service Medi‑Cal effective Jan. 1, 2027; the county added that the transition does not mean beneficiaries will pay a fee and that Medi‑Cal will continue to cover health care costs at no charge and allow services from any provider who accepts Medi‑Cal.

"Shifts in program coverage can raise questions and uncertainty for our customers and families who rely on Medi‑Cal for their health care. Our priority is to make sure our customers have clear, reliable information and know that DPSS is here to help them navigate what comes next. No one should have to figure this out alone," said Dr. Jackie Contreras, Director of the Department of Public Social Services.

DPSS is urging affected Medi‑Cal customers to carefully review notices from DPSS and the California Department of Health Care Services, keep contact information current, respond to requests for information and complete Medi‑Cal renewals on time. The county said it is running a Keep Your Benefits campaign with free informational webinars in multiple languages and community partners sharing resources; customers and community partners can visit the Keep Your Benefits website for updates and webinar schedules.

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