California Medi-Cal Asset Limits:

2026 and 2027

• Medi-Cal does not apply an asset test to everyone.
• Beginning January 1, 2026, California again began counting assets for many Non-MAGI Medi-Cal programs, including programs serving:
  • People age 65 and older;
  • People with disabilities;
  • People with a Medi-Cal Share of Cost;
  • Some Medicare beneficiaries; and
  • People who need nursing-home or other long-term care.
• The amount that matters is your countable property.
  • Your home – principal residence,
  • one vehicle and
  • certain other property may not count toward the limit.
• Citations
  • official DHCS Medi-Cal Asset Limit Frequently Asked Questions. FAQ’s
  • Medi-Cal Is Changing in 2027: Here’s What You Need to Know  Goff Legal  Video 
    • Luther Kenney Video
  • ca.db101.org/medi_cal/ categories

Current Medi-Cal Asset Limits

These limits apply through June 30, 2027:

• One person: $130,000
• Two people: $195,000
• Three people: $260,000
• Four people: $325,000
• Five people: $390,000
• Add $65,000 for each additional eligible family member.
• A maximum of ten people may be included.

These limits apply to countable assets, not necessarily everything a person owns.

Not everyone who lives in the home is necessarily included in the Medi-Cal household. For example, an adult child living with a parent may not be included in the parent’s Medi-Cal household.

See the current asset-limit amounts on the DHCS website.

Asset Limits Are Scheduled to be much lower  in July 2027

• Under current California Department of Health Care Services guidance, the asset limits beginning July 1, 2027 will be:
  • One person: $21,000
  • Two people: $31,000
  • Add $1,550 for each additional eligible household member.
  • For someone already enrolled, the law applies the lower limit beginning with their first annual renewal conducted on or after July 1, 2027, assuming implementation proceeds as scheduled.
  • It does not automatically make every existing member over the limit on July 1.
    • Citation: Welfare and Institutions Code §14005.62(b), added by SB 164, §69.
• A maximum of ten people may be included.
• This would be a substantial reduction from the limits currently in effect.
• People who have Medi-Cal based on age, disability, Medicare eligibility or long-term-care needs should carefully review future renewal notices and updated DHCS guidance.
• References & Citations
  • DHCS.CA.Gov Medi Cal Changes 
  • dhcs.ca.gov/asset-limit-frequently-asked-questions/

Which Medi-Cal Programs Use These Asset Limits?

The asset limits generally apply to most Non-MAGI Medi-Cal programs, including:

• Aged, Blind and Disabled Medi-Cal;
• Medically Needy Medi-Cal;
  • Medi-Cal with a Share of Cost;
• The 250% Working Disabled Program;
• Long-Term-Care and Nursing-Home Medi-Cal;
• Certain Home and Community-Based Services programs; and
• Medicare Savings Programs, including:
  • Qualified Medicare Beneficiary — QMB;
  • Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary — SLMB;
  • Qualifying Individual — QI; and
  • Qualified Disabled and Working Individual — QDWI.
• Review DHCS All County Welfare Directors Letter 25-14.  June 30, 2025
• REINSTATEMENT OF ASSET LIMITS FOR THE the Pickle, Disabled Adult Child (DAC), AND DISABLED WIDOW/ER (DW) PROGRAMS  9/17/2026 DHCS 

Does the Asset Test Apply to MAGI Medi-Cal?

Generally, no.

Most people who qualify under the MAGI Medi-Cal tax and income rules are not subject to the Non-MAGI asset limit.

MAGI Medi-Cal commonly covers:

• Adults under age 65;
• Parents and caretaker relatives;
• Children;
• Pregnant individuals; and
• Other people whose eligibility is determined primarily by income and tax-household rules.

Income, household size, residency and other eligibility requirements still apply.

Review our MAGI Medi-Cal income and eligibility information.

See the official DHCS explanation of who is affected by the asset limits.

Which Assets May Count?

• Countable assets may include:
  • Cash;
  • Checking accounts;
  • Savings accounts;
  • Certificates of deposit;
  • Stocks, bonds and brokerage accounts;
  • Second homes or other real estate;
  • Additional vehicles;
  • Certain retirement or investment accounts;
  • Financial resources held jointly with another person; and
  • Other financial resources located inside or outside California.
• An asset may need to be reported even when you believe that it should be exempt.
  • Your county Medi-Cal office makes the official determination about whether an asset counts.
• Review the
  • DHCS asset-reporting information letter.
    • Including FAQ’s
  •  dhcs.ca.gov frequently-asked-questions/#what-assets
  • DHCS Asset Limit Frequently Asked Questions
  • DHCS Medi-Cal Changes
  • CANHR 2026 Asset Limit Reinstatement FAQ
  • CANHR Asset Limits for Non-MAGI Medi-Cal
  • California Health Advocates: Medi-Cal for People With Medicare
  • California HICAP Medicare Counseling
  • Find Your County Medi-Cal Office
    • Benefits Cal.com
  • DHCS.CA.Gov  Asset Limits FAQ’s
  • CANHR  Asset Limits  FAQ’s

Which Assets Usually Do Not Count?

• Examples of property that may be excluded from the asset calculation include:
  • Your principal residence;
  • Your primary vehicle;
  • Furniture and ordinary household property;
  • Clothing and personal effects;
  • Certain property used for self-support; and
  • Certain retirement funds when you are receiving regular payments.
    • In Medi-Cal Applicant’s Name:
      • The balance of the IRA or the pension is considered unavailable if the applicant is receiving periodic payments of interest and principal. Unless the applicant is required to receive a required minimum distribution due to age, there is no requirement on the amount of the payment required, only that it be composed of both interest and principal, and that payments are received regularly (ACWDL 02-51).
      • If the applicant is prevented from taking distributions, they may provide evidence of a “good faith effort” to take a distribution in order to have the account considered exempt.
      • In “Community Spouse’s” Name: If spousal impoverishment protections are in place for certain married couples or registered domestic partners, the balance of the IRA or pension held in the name of the spouse not using Medi-Cal is totally exempt regardless if the spouse is receiving regular distributions or not.
        •  canhr.org/iras-pensions-annuities-under-medi-cal/
        •  canhr.org/asset-limits-for-non-magi-medi-cal-programs/ xxx
      • Citations and lean more
        • Review the DHCS examples of counted and exempt assets.
        • Read CANHR’s explanation of asset limits for Non-MAGI Medi-Cal.