Medi-Cal Income Limits 2026: California Charts by Family Size
Quick answer: most California adults qualify with household income up to $1,835/month (single) — 138% of the 2026 federal poverty guidelines. Children and pregnant women qualify at much higher levels. The chart below lists the California Medicaid income requirements and guidelines for 2026 — all effective cutoffs including the 5% MAGI disregard, computed from the official 2026 FPL table (ASPE / Federal Register). State standards are from the CMS national eligibility table, as of 2023-12-01.
Medi-Cal is the California Medicaid program. The 2026 Medi-Cal income limits are the figures on this page, shown as both the state percentages and dollar charts by household size.
California Medicaid work requirement 2027: the federal work-requirement deadline for California is January 1, 2027. The income cutoffs on this page are the 2026 figures in effect now; see the California work-requirement page for hours, exemptions and the reporting timeline.
Verification: All six figures come from the CMS national eligibility table (2023-12-01 snapshot): children 261% all ages, limited separate CHIP 317%, pregnant 208%, parents 109%, expansion 133%. California's limited separate CHIP (footnote 6 of the CMS table) covers only infants to age 2 statewide and children in three counties.
Adults 19-64 (Medi-Cal expansion group) — 2026 income limits
138% FPL effectiveAdults 19-64 (Medi-Cal expansion group) income limits 2026: 138% of the federal poverty level — about $1,835/month for a household of 1 and $3,795/month for a family of 4.
| Household | Family of 1 | Family of 2 | Family of 3 | Family of 4 | Family of 5 | Family of 6 | Family of 7 | Family of 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly income limit | $1,835 | $2,489 | $3,142 | $3,795 | $4,448 | $5,101 | $5,755 | $6,408 |
Base standard 133% FPL + 5% MAGI disregard = 138% effective. Larger households: add roughly $653/month per additional person.
The ACA expansion group: adults 19-64 who qualify on income alone and are not eligible in another category such as disability or pregnancy. This is the group the 2027 work requirement applies to. Delivered through Medi-Cal managed-care plans. No asset test.
Children 0-5 (Medicaid) — 2026 income limits
266% FPL effectiveChildren 0-5 (Medicaid) income limits 2026: 266% of the federal poverty level — about $3,538/month for a household of 1 and $7,315/month for a family of 4.
| Household | Family of 1 | Family of 2 | Family of 3 | Family of 4 | Family of 5 | Family of 6 | Family of 7 | Family of 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly income limit | $3,538 | $4,797 | $6,056 | $7,315 | $8,574 | $9,833 | $11,092 | $12,351 |
Base standard 261% FPL + 5% MAGI disregard = 266% effective. Larger households: add roughly $1,259/month per additional person.
Medicaid coverage for young children. No premiums and no asset test.
Children 6-18 (Medicaid) — 2026 income limits
266% FPL effectiveChildren 6-18 (Medicaid) income limits 2026: 266% of the federal poverty level — about $3,538/month for a household of 1 and $7,315/month for a family of 4.
| Household | Family of 1 | Family of 2 | Family of 3 | Family of 4 | Family of 5 | Family of 6 | Family of 7 | Family of 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly income limit | $3,538 | $4,797 | $6,056 | $7,315 | $8,574 | $9,833 | $11,092 | $12,351 |
Base standard 261% FPL + 5% MAGI disregard = 266% effective. Larger households: add roughly $1,259/month per additional person.
Medicaid coverage for school-age children. No premiums and no asset test.
Children (separate CHIP — limited) — 2026 income limits
322% FPL effectiveChildren (separate CHIP — limited) income limits 2026: 322% of the federal poverty level — about $4,283/month for a household of 1 and $8,855/month for a family of 4.
| Household | Family of 1 | Family of 2 | Family of 3 | Family of 4 | Family of 5 | Family of 6 | Family of 7 | Family of 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly income limit | $4,283 | $5,807 | $7,331 | $8,855 | $10,379 | $11,903 | $13,427 | $14,952 |
Base standard 317% FPL + 5% MAGI disregard = 322% effective. Larger households: add roughly $1,524/month per additional person.
California's separate CHIP is limited per the CMS national table: it covers certain children up to age 2 statewide, and children up to age 19 only in three counties, up to 317% FPL. Most California children are covered under Medicaid (Medi-Cal) instead.
Pregnant women — 2026 income limits
213% FPL effectivePregnant women income limits 2026: 213% of the federal poverty level — about $2,833/month for a household of 1 and $5,858/month for a family of 4.
| Household | Family of 1 | Family of 2 | Family of 3 | Family of 4 | Family of 5 | Family of 6 | Family of 7 | Family of 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly income limit | $2,833 | $3,841 | $4,849 | $5,858 | $6,866 | $7,874 | $8,882 | $9,890 |
Base standard 208% FPL + 5% MAGI disregard = 213% effective. Larger households: add roughly $1,008/month per additional person.
Count the expected child(ren) in household size. Federal law guarantees 12 months of postpartum coverage. No asset test.
Parents & caretaker relatives — 2026 income limits
114% FPL effectiveParents & caretaker relatives income limits 2026: 114% of the federal poverty level — about $1,516/month for a household of 1 and $3,135/month for a family of 4.
| Household | Family of 1 | Family of 2 | Family of 3 | Family of 4 | Family of 5 | Family of 6 | Family of 7 | Family of 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly income limit | $1,516 | $2,056 | $2,595 | $3,135 | $3,675 | $4,214 | $4,754 | $5,293 |
Base standard 109% FPL + 5% MAGI disregard = 114% effective. Larger households: add roughly $540/month per additional person.
The parents and caretaker relatives category. Parents above this line qualify through the adult expansion group instead.
California publishes MAGI standards as a percent of FPL and applies the federal 5-percentage-point income disregard, so every group has a base standard and a slightly higher effective cutoff. The tables below show the effective (with-disregard) figures in dollars, computed from the official 2026 federal poverty guidelines. Expansion adults are covered as Medi-Cal through managed-care plans.
MAGI household size follows federal tax-filing relationships, not who lives under your roof - and a pregnant applicant counts the expected child(ren).
Frequently asked questions
What is the California Medicaid income limit in 2026?
It depends on the coverage group. most California adults qualify with household income up to $1,835/month (single) — 138% of the 2026 federal poverty guidelines. Children and pregnant women qualify at much higher levels.
What is the California Medicaid income limit for a family of 2?
Adults 19-64 (Medi-Cal expansion group) — 138% of the federal poverty level, about $2,489/month for a family of 2 in 2026. The ACA expansion group: adults 19-64 who qualify on income alone and are not eligible in another category such as disability or pregnancy. This is the group the 2027 work requirement applies to. Delivered through Medi-Cal managed-care plans. No asset test.
What is the California Medicaid income limit for a family of 3?
Adults 19-64 (Medi-Cal expansion group) — 138% of the federal poverty level, about $3,142/month for a family of 3 in 2026. The ACA expansion group: adults 19-64 who qualify on income alone and are not eligible in another category such as disability or pregnancy. This is the group the 2027 work requirement applies to. Delivered through Medi-Cal managed-care plans. No asset test.
What is the California Medicaid income limit for a family of 4?
Adults 19-64 (Medi-Cal expansion group) — 138% of the federal poverty level, about $3,795/month for a family of 4 in 2026. The ACA expansion group: adults 19-64 who qualify on income alone and are not eligible in another category such as disability or pregnancy. This is the group the 2027 work requirement applies to. Delivered through Medi-Cal managed-care plans. No asset test.
What is the California Medicaid income limit for a family of 5?
Adults 19-64 (Medi-Cal expansion group) — 138% of the federal poverty level, about $4,448/month for a family of 5 in 2026. The ACA expansion group: adults 19-64 who qualify on income alone and are not eligible in another category such as disability or pregnancy. This is the group the 2027 work requirement applies to. Delivered through Medi-Cal managed-care plans. No asset test.
What income is too high for Medicaid in California?
There is no single number — every coverage group has its own ceiling. In California, an adult under 65 qualifies with household income up to $1,835/month for one person (138% FPL). Go above that and the adult group no longer covers you. Children and pregnant women stay covered at much higher levels: children to 266% FPL and pregnant women to 213% FPL.
What is the income limit for Adults 19-64 in California?
Adults 19-64 (Medi-Cal expansion group): 138% of the federal poverty level, about $1,835/month for a household of one. The ACA expansion group: adults 19-64 who qualify on income alone and are not eligible in another category such as disability or pregnancy. This is the group the 2027 work requirement applies to. Delivered through Medi-Cal managed-care plans. No asset test.
What is the income limit for Children 0-5 in California?
Children 0-5 (Medicaid): 266% of the federal poverty level, about $3,538/month for a household of one. Medicaid coverage for young children. No premiums and no asset test.
What is the income limit for Children 6-18 in California?
Children 6-18 (Medicaid): 266% of the federal poverty level, about $3,538/month for a household of one. Medicaid coverage for school-age children. No premiums and no asset test.
What is the income limit for Children in California?
Children (separate CHIP — limited): 322% of the federal poverty level, about $4,283/month for a household of one. California's separate CHIP is limited per the CMS national table: it covers certain children up to age 2 statewide, and children up to age 19 only in three counties, up to 317% FPL. Most California children are covered under Medicaid (Medi-Cal) instead.
What is the income limit for Pregnant women in California?
Pregnant women: 213% of the federal poverty level, about $2,833/month for a household of one. Count the expected child(ren) in household size. Federal law guarantees 12 months of postpartum coverage. No asset test.
What are the California Medicaid income limits for seniors (65 and older)?
The limits above are MAGI standards for children, pregnant women, parents and adults under 65. People 65 or older (and people with disabilities of any age) qualify under separate non-MAGI categories with their own dollar limits, which can include an asset test. California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) publishes those figures and makes the final determination.
What are the Medi-Cal income limits in 2026?
Medi-Cal is the California Medicaid program. Its income limits are the ones on this page: most California adults qualify with household income up to $1,835/month (single) — 138% of the 2026 federal poverty guidelines. Children and pregnant women qualify at much higher levels.
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Reviewed by Gavin YE, Technical Director, ClearRules Labs.
Page last reviewed 2026-09-21