Medi Cal renewal

Medi-Cal Renewal and Redetermination

Do not ignore a Medi-Cal renewal notice, even if you still qualify. Medi-Cal may renew some people automatically, but others must review their information, submit a renewal form or provide documents before the deadline.

Start by checking your renewal date and current case information through BenefitsCal. Make sure Medi-Cal has your correct address, telephone number and email address so you receive important notices.

The California Department of Health Care Services — Keep Your Medi-Cal page provides the state’s official renewal instructions.

 keep la covered.org/

What Is a Medi-Cal Renewal or Redetermination?

A Medi-Cal renewal, sometimes called a redetermination, is a review of whether you continue to qualify for Medi-Cal. The county reviews information about your income, household and the eligibility program under which you receive coverage.

  • MAGI Medi-Cal:
    • Generally uses tax-household and income rules based on Modified Adjusted Gross Income.
    • See my web page — MAGI Medi-Cal income limits.
  • Aged, Blind and Disabled Medi-Cal:
    • Uses different Non-MAGI rules and may consider Medicare premiums, health-insurance premiums and other allowable deductions.
    • See my web page — Aged and Disabled Medi-Cal.
  • Asset rules:

A renewal is different from reporting a change during the year. The county may review your eligibility before your normal renewal date when your income, household, insurance or another important circumstance changes.

The distinction between annual renewals and midyear changes is explained in DHCS All County Welfare Directors Letter 22-33 — Annual Renewals and Changes in Circumstances.

Will Medi-Cal Renew You Automatically?

The county should first determine whether it can renew your Medi-Cal using reliable information it already has. This is sometimes called an automatic or ex parte renewal.

  • If Medi-Cal can renew you automatically:
    • You may receive a notice confirming that your eligibility was renewed.
    • Read the notice and make sure the income, household and coverage information is correct.
    • Report incorrect or outdated information promptly.
  • If the county needs more information:
    • You may receive a renewal form by mail or a renewal task in BenefitsCal.
    • Complete every applicable section and submit it before the due date.
    • Provide requested verification documents promptly.
  • If you receive nothing:
    • Do not assume your coverage renewed.
    • Check BenefitsCal, review your notices and confirm that the county has your current mailing address.
    • Contact your county when your renewal month is approaching and you cannot find your renewal information.

Keep copies of everything you submit. Save the BenefitsCal confirmation number, upload confirmation, fax confirmation or a copy of the mailed renewal form.

How to Complete Your Medi-Cal Renewal

You may generally renew Medi-Cal online, by mail, by telephone or through your county Medi-Cal office. Online renewal through BenefitsCal may be the easiest method when your case is connected correctly.

  1. Sign in to BenefitsCal.
    • Review your renewal date, notices and outstanding tasks.
    • If your case does not appear, contact the county before starting another application.
  2. Review every person in the household.
    • Confirm names, dates of birth, relationships and who currently lives in the home.
    • Correct information about anyone who moved in or moved out.
  3. Review the income listed for each person.
  4. Review Medicare and other health insurance.
    • Confirm Medicare coverage and the premiums being deducted from Social Security or paid directly.
    • Report employer insurance, Medicare supplements, prescription-drug plans, dental insurance, vision insurance and other health coverage when requested.
  5. Review financial accounts and property when those rules apply.
    • Do not assume that the income and asset rules are the same for every Medi-Cal program.
    • For the current rules and limits, see my web page — Medi-Cal asset and resource limits.
  6. Upload the requested proof.
  7. Submit the renewal and save confirmation.
    • Save a PDF, screenshot or printed confirmation showing when the renewal was submitted.
    • Continue checking BenefitsCal for additional document requests and the final Notice of Action.

BenefitsCal also provides a video explaining how to submit a Medi-Cal renewal.

Information Medi-Cal May Review

The information required depends on the person’s Medi-Cal category and what the county can verify electronically. Possible renewal subjects include:

  • Contact information:
    • Mailing address, residential address, telephone number and email address.
  • Household information:
    • Marriage, separation, divorce, birth, death and people moving into or out of the household.
  • Income:
    • Paystubs, employer statements, self-employment records, Social Security letters, pension statements or other proof.
    • See my web page — how to report changes to Medi-Cal.
  • Medicare and other health coverage:
    • Insurance cards, premium notices, billing statements and proof of who pays the premium.
  • Expenses and deductions:
    • Health-insurance premiums and other allowable expenses may affect certain Non-MAGI eligibility calculations.
  • Financial accounts and property:
    • Bank accounts, real estate and other property when those questions apply to the person’s eligibility category.
  • Immigration or citizenship information:
    • Only provide documents requested for the person whose eligibility is being determined.
    • Family members who are not applying for coverage may not have to provide immigration information for themselves.

Do not upload incomplete pages. When a statement has several pages, include the pages necessary to identify the person, institution, relevant amounts and statement period.

Important Federal Medi-Cal Changes Beginning in 2027

The federal 2025 budget reconciliation law, Public Law 119-21, made substantial changes to Medicaid. Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program.

These changes do not apply in exactly the same way to every Medi-Cal member. Several major requirements primarily concern adults enrolled through the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion category.

  • Six-month eligibility reviews:
    • Beginning in 2027, certain expansion adults will have eligibility reviewed every six months instead of only once a year.
    • More frequent reviews mean that members must watch for Medi-Cal notices and requests throughout the year.
    • Missing a form or verification request may cause coverage to end even when the person remains financially eligible.
  • Work and community-engagement requirements:
    • Certain adults ages 19 through 64 may have to show at least 80 hours per month of work, education, job training, volunteering or another permitted activity.
    • Some people will qualify for an exemption, but they may still need to provide information establishing the exemption.
    • Implementation details and reporting procedures may continue to change as federal and California guidance is issued.
  • Important exemptions:
    • Exemptions may include people with disabilities or serious health limitations, pregnant individuals, certain parents and caregivers, Medicare beneficiaries and other protected groups.
    • Do not assume that an exemption will be recognized automatically. Read every county notice and respond when verification is requested.
  • Shorter retroactive eligibility:
    • The federal law also reduces how far back Medicaid coverage may begin before the application month.
    • This makes applying promptly and responding to county requests even more important.

For continuing implementation information, review the KFF Medicaid Work Requirements Tracker.

Aged, blind and disabled Medi-Cal members should not assume that the new work requirement applies to them. Many people in those categories are outside the expansion group or may qualify for an exemption. They must still complete ordinary Medi-Cal renewals and respond to county requests.

Immigration-Related Medi-Cal Changes

Federal Medicaid changes and California budget changes also affect eligibility, benefits or costs for some immigrants. These rules have different effective dates and should not be confused with the ordinary Medi-Cal renewal process.

  • Do not assume that every immigrant loses Medi-Cal:
    • Eligibility depends on age, immigration category, pregnancy status, the type of Medi-Cal requested and the applicable federal or California program.
  • Mixed-status families may still apply:
    • A parent or household member who is not requesting coverage may apply for an eligible child or other family member.
    • The applicant should answer questions accurately but should not provide unnecessary information for a non-applicant.
  • Read the effective date:
    • A law may be enacted long before the eligibility restriction, premium, benefit reduction or reporting requirement actually begins.
    • Existing members and new applicants may be treated differently.
  • Do not cancel coverage based on rumors:
    • Wait for a written Medi-Cal notice explaining how a rule applies to the individual case.
    • Seek qualified immigration advice when public-charge or immigration-status concerns are involved.

Start with my web page — Medi-Cal eligibility criteria — and verify current program requirements through the California Department of Health Care Services.

Do Not Wait for Renewal to Report an Important Change

A scheduled renewal is not the only time the county may review eligibility. Income, household, insurance and other changes may have to be reported during the year.

  • Report income changes:
    • Report applicable income that starts, stops, increases or decreases.
    • See my web page — Medi-Cal Report Changes.
  • Report household changes:
    • Examples include marriage, separation, divorce, birth, death or a person moving into or out of the household.
  • Report address changes:
    • An outdated address may cause you to miss the renewal packet or Notice of Action.
  • Report other health coverage:
    • Tell Medi-Cal when Medicare, employer insurance or another policy starts, changes or ends.
  • Report premiums that may affect Share of Cost:
    • A new dental, vision, Medicare supplement, prescription-drug or other allowable health-insurance premium may affect a Non-MAGI Medi-Cal calculation.
    • Do not wait until annual renewal to request a Share of Cost recalculation.
    • See my web page — report changes that affect Medi-Cal Share of Cost.

Save proof showing what was reported, when it was submitted and which documents were provided.

What If Medi-Cal Says Your Coverage Will End?

Read the entire Notice of Action. It should explain the reason for the decision, the effective date and the right to request a hearing.

  • If the renewal was not received:
    • Submit the missing renewal and requested proof immediately.
    • Ask whether the case can be corrected during the available reconsideration or cure period.
    • Do not submit a completely new application unless the county instructs you to do so.
  • If Medi-Cal says the income is too high:
  • If the decision is incorrect:
    • Ask the county to correct the case and issue a revised written decision.
    • Keep records of telephone calls, uploaded documents and the names of county workers.
    • See my web page — Medi-Cal appeals and State Hearings.
  • If ongoing coverage is urgent:
    • Review the hearing deadline immediately.
    • Special timing rules may determine whether benefits can continue while the appeal is pending.

Do not rely only on a telephone conversation. Ask for the decision and the county’s calculation in writing.

Medi-Cal Renewal Checklist

  • Before submitting:
    • Confirm your address, telephone number and email.
    • Review every household member.
    • Review income, insurance, Medicare and applicable expenses.
    • Check property and financial information when required.
  • When submitting:
    • Answer every applicable question.
    • Upload clear and complete proof.
    • Submit before the stated deadline.
    • Save the confirmation.
  • After submitting:
    • Check BenefitsCal for new tasks and notices.
    • Respond promptly to requests for additional information.
    • Read the final Notice of Action.
    • Confirm that coverage continued and that the county used the correct information.

For help locating the appropriate office or official Medi-Cal resource, see my web page — Medi-Cal Contact Help.

Medi-Cal Renewal Resources

Medi-Cal rules depend on the individual’s eligibility category and circumstances. County eligibility workers make the final eligibility determination.

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