California Medicaid Eligibility Calculator (2026)
In California Medicaid is Medi-Cal, and there is no separate CHIP for most families: Medi-Cal itself covers children up to $6,056 a month for a family of three, and any adult 19–64 qualifies up to $1,836.
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Eligibility checklist
One program for children
The Department of Health Care Services folds CHIP money into Medi-Cal, covering infants to 261% of the poverty line and children of every age to the same level (266% after the disregard).[MACPAC] MACPAC flags two exceptions above that line: certain children up to age two between 261% and 317% are covered statewide, and children in three counties are covered up to 317% through a separate county CHIP.[MACPAC]
Pregnancy is covered by Medi-Cal to 208% of the poverty line, and from-conception coverage extends prenatal care to 317% — so a pregnant Californian at $4,599 a month in a household of two still has prenatal coverage.[MACPAC]
| Group | FPL | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adults 19–64 | 138% | $1,836 | $2,489 | $3,142 | $3,795 | $5,102 |
| Pregnancy | 322% | $4,283 | $5,807 | $7,331 | $8,855 | $11,904 |
| Children | 266% | $3,538 | $4,797 | $6,056 | $7,315 | $9,834 |
Aged, blind and disabled Medi-Cal
California disregards income between 100% and 138% of the poverty line for its aged and disabled group, which effectively puts that program at 138% — $1,836 for one person in 2026 — and its medically needy level sits at the same percentage.[MACPAC]
After delivery
Medi-Cal’s 12-month postpartum coverage was approved on May 25, 2022.[KFF] Combined with the 317% from-conception coverage, a Californian can be covered from early pregnancy through the baby’s first birthday at incomes far above the adult line.[MACPAC]
Applying
Applications are filed through BenefitsCal or with county social services offices. California implemented the expansion on January 1, 2014.[KFF]
Worked example
A Fresno parent with a preschooler and a fourth-grader earns $5,400 a month. That is 237.2% of the poverty line for 3.
| Parent / caretaker | over by $2,258 | $3,142 |
| Child 1–5 | Medi-Cal (CHIP-funded) | $6,056 |
| Child 6–18 | Medi-Cal (CHIP-funded) | $6,056 |
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