Medi-Cal #Asset & Income Limits (2026)

For programs with an asset test (Aged/Blind/Disabled, Share-of-Cost, long-term care, Medicare Savings Programs):

• $130,000 for one person
• $195,000 for a couple
• +$65,000 for each additional household member (up to 10 people) (CalHealth Services)

These limits apply to countable assets, such as:

• Cash
• Bank accounts
• Stocks or brokerage accounts
• Certificates of deposit
• Additional real estate or second homes
• Extra vehicles (CalHealth Services)

Assets That Do NOT Count

Several assets are exempt, including:

• Your primary residence
• One vehicle
• Household goods and personal property
• Some retirement accounts if you are taking distributions our webpage
• Burial plots and certain prepaid funeral plans (CANHR)

This is why many people technically have more wealth than the limit but still qualify.

What If You’re Over the Asset Limit?

Yes — normally you must spend down assets until you fall below the limit.

Typical “spend-down” methods include:

Allowed spending

• Paying off debts (mortgage, credit cards, car loan)
• Home repairs or improvements
• Buying furniture or appliances
• Paying medical bills
• Prepaying rent or care costs
• Purchasing exempt assets (car, burial plan)

If your assets are still over $130,000 (or $195k for couples) when you apply or at renewal, Medi-Cal eligibility will be denied or terminated. (Justice in Aging)

Important Rule: Look-Back Period

For long-term-care Medi-Cal,  our webpage California can review up to 30 months of financial history.

If someone gave away assets or transferred them for less than fair value, it can create a penalty period where Medi-Cal will not pay for care. (CunninghamLegal)

This is why planning is often done carefully with attorneys.

Example

Let’s say a single person has:

• $200,000 in savings
• A home they live in (not counted)

Since the limit is $130,000, they must spend down about $70,000 before Medi-Cal eligibility.

They could do that by:

• Paying off debts
• Home improvements
• Medical expenses our webpage
• Buying exempt items

The asset test only applies to “non-MAGI” Medi-Cal (mostly seniors, disabled, and long-term care).

MAGI Medi-Cal (Affordable Care Act expansion) has no asset test at all — eligibility is based on income only. (Justice in Aging)

✅ Bottom line:

• Asset limit in 2026: $130k single / $195k couple
• If you exceed it, you generally must spend down assets before qualifying.
• Some assets (home, car, personal property) don’t count.
• Improper transfers can trigger penalties.
• Email us [email protected]

If you want, Chat GBT can also explain three little-known strategies people use to qualify without just burning through their savings (these come up a lot in Medi-Cal planning and many agents don’t know them).

SSI #Resources & Income Limits

• Medi-Cal section of the
  • Disability Benefits 101 website.
• Countable resources are the things you own that count toward the resource limit. Many things you own do not count.

 ^{CA Health Care Advocates *  DHCS}  *

1. 1.  asset questionnaire
   2. CANHR Fact Sheet
   3. Understanding Medi-Cal’s Asset Test for Seniors and People With Disabilities
   4. Western Poverty Law 
   5. Nolo - SSI Income & Asset Limits
   6. Income SSA.Gov
      1. SSA Site
   7. Will my settlement affect my government benefits?  VIDEO
   8. dhcs.ca.gov/Asset-Limit-Changes-for-Non-MAGI-Medi-Cal
      1. dhcs.ca.gov/asset test amendment
      2. dhcs.ca.gov/Asset-Limits-Report
   9. california healthline.org/sset-test-elimination
   10. FAQ's
   11. Our webpage on SSI Resources & Income
2. Have less than... of FPL  in countable monthly income for an individual ... for a couple). ^{ca health advocates.org ADFPL    *  AB 715 Fact Sheet * Western Poverty Law  *} 
   1. Share of Cost if income is too high, but you qualify on asset test?

Resources & Links

•  Insure Me Kevin.com  *
• DHCS.CA.Gov *
  • How to report assets Insure Me Kevin.com

Medi-Cal determines eligibility based on #monthly, not annual income. 

• Even you you make $100k per year, but have a month with no income, you would qualify for MAGI Medi Cal
  • This can even get you around the Open and Special Enrollment restrictions.  That is, if you have a bad month, enroll, then when you get kicked out of Medi-Cal for making too much money, as you reported it, as required by law, within 10 days, thank G-d, you have a special enrollment into Covered CA or direct with an Insurance Company.
• No extra charge for us to help you enroll in Covered CA!  ^{Insure Me Kevin.com} *  ^{Western Poverty Law *  DHCS ACWDLS * 2015 Medi-Cal Eligibility Division Information Letters (MEDILs) * 15-03 *} 
• Medi-Cal Eligibility & Covered California – FAQ’s  dhcs.ca.gov *
• Plain English from Covered CA Broker Department Email
•  
• In regards to Medi-cal,  they review monthly income.
• So if a client has been making $2000 a month and they do a report a change and it goes now to $1000 a month for 1 person, they will now be eligible for medi-cal.
• If the income goes back up to $2000 a month, they contact [report a change] Medi-cal and they are dis-enrolled from medi-cal and now are eligible for Covered CA. ^{Response By Email (Argelia) (09/08/2016 11:56 AM)}
• Get Instant Covered CA Quotes
• Our webpage on reporting changes in income, etc.
• If your income is borderline…you may well qualify for Silver 94 view chart very low net premium and rich benefits
  • Scroll down and view the Income Chart

Medi Cal Qualification under MAGI Income 

• Medi Changes for 2026  dhcs.ca.gov 
• For most individuals, Medi-Cal eligibility will be #based on your household size and your Federal MAGI – Income. ^Dhcs.gov * ^{My Medi Cal} *  ^{Western Poverty Law} * If you have less than 138% of Federal Poverty Level, for children 266%, that’s  it.   
• Medi Cal eligibility under Health Care Reform expanded is when you have  family household income (MAGI) under 138% of Federal Poverty Level (subsidy income chart for ObamaCare) ^dhcs.gov for the parents and 266% for children  there is no more estate recovery for health insurance.
  • Asset test is back for 2026 if you are 65 or older, in a nursing home, have a disabiltiy or make too much money  SCROLL DOWN  FAQ’s   DHCS.CA.Gov *
• If your children qualify for Medi Cal, and the parents for Covered CA – Private Insurance with subsidies you can now apply for both using the Covered CA online application ^{Cbp.org page 65}, with us as your agent at no additional charge, just follow these instructions, starting with find help in the upper right hand corner if you fill out the Covered CA application ONLINE, yourself.
• If you are not applying for a subsidized private plan with us as your agent, no charge through Covered CA the easiest and fastest way to apply for or renew Medi-Cal is:
  • Directly though your local county human service agency CA State wide listing
  • Benefits Cal.org for all Welfare Benefits…
• Please note that we can no longer do extensive research on Medi Cal questions as we are not authorized representatives for Medi Cal, nor do we get compensated one nickel for this website or our time.  Please contact Medi Cal or your Medi Cal HMO directly.  We will do research and education for a fee.
• Work Requirement Commonwealth Fund.org 
• Covered CA Income and FPL Federal Poverty Level Chart
  
  • Pregnant women count as two people    
  • Chart on Medi-Cal’s Website
    
  • Can qualify on MONTHLY income
• Covered CA Medi-Cal Overview
• There are nominal premiums for children if you’re at more than 160% of FPL  ^DHCS *
• DHCS.gov  Asset Limit FAQ’s
  • 
  •