Health care for immigrant families in California: the complete guide

We know health care feels scary right now. The rules changed, and the news is loud. But here is the truth: in California, every child can still get full Medi-Cal, every pregnant person can still get full Medi-Cal, every person can get emergency care, and our counties run programs for adults who cannot enroll. You have more options than you think.

This guide is general information, not legal or medical advice. We are not a clinic, a lawyer or a crisis line. Where a rule has an exception, a deadline or a risk, we say so in the same section.

On this page

• Can I get health care in California without papers?
• Who can still sign up for full Medi-Cal?
• How do I apply for Medi-Cal?
• How do I keep my Medi-Cal?
• What changes in 2027?
• What is restricted scope (emergency) Medi-Cal?
• What can I get if I cannot sign up for Medi-Cal?
• How do I get care for my children?
• I am pregnant. What can I get?
• Can I get Covered California?
• Where can I get mental health care?
• Will using health care hurt my immigration case?
• Is my information private, and can ICE come into a clinic?
• What changed in 2025 and 2026?
• Who can help for free in the Bay Area?
• Questions people ask

Can I get health care in California without papers?

Yes. What you can get depends on your age, whether you are pregnant, whether you already have Medi-Cal, and where you live. But no one in California is left with nothing.

Here are the doors that are open to people without papers:

• Full Medi-Cal for children under 19. Status does not matter.
• Full Medi-Cal during pregnancy and for one year after. Status does not matter.
• Full Medi-Cal for people under 26 who were in foster care on their 18th birthday. Status does not matter.
• Full Medi-Cal for adults who already had it by January 1, 2026, as long as they renew on time.
• Restricted scope Medi-Cal for emergencies, pregnancy care and nursing home care.
• Emergency rooms. Hospitals with an emergency department must check and stabilize anyone with an emergency, even if they cannot pay.
• County programs. San Mateo County says legal status is not required for its county funded coverage. Santa Clara County runs PCAP and HAP.
• Community health centers. Federally funded health centers may not turn you away because you cannot pay.

Your next step: find your situation below. If you are not sure which rules fit you, call your county Medi-Cal office. In San Mateo County, that is 1-800-223-8383. In Santa Clara County, it is (408) 758-3800. Ask: "What health coverage can I and my family get?"

Who can still sign up for full Medi-Cal?

Children, pregnant people, former foster youth, and many people with a lawful status. Most adults 19 and older without papers who did not already have Medi-Cal cannot newly sign up for full Medi-Cal since January 1, 2026.

Who can sign up, whatever their status

The state says these people can still apply for full Medi-Cal, no matter their immigration status:

• Children under 19
• People who are pregnant, during the pregnancy and for one year after
• People under 26 who were in foster care on their 18th birthday

Other Medi-Cal rules, such as income, still apply.

The 2026 freeze for adults

Since January 1, 2026, undocumented adults 19 and older cannot newly sign up for full Medi-Cal. The state calls this the "Adult Expansion Freeze."

• If you had full Medi-Cal by January 1, 2026, you can keep it. You must renew on time and still meet the other rules.
• If you applied before January 1, 2026, the freeze does not stop that application.
• If you cannot sign up for full Medi-Cal, you can still get restricted scope Medi-Cal. See What is restricted scope Medi-Cal?

People with DACA, a pending case or a green card

The freeze is tied to immigration status, and some groups are outside it.

• PRUCOL. The state says the freeze does not apply to people who claim PRUCOL. That means "permanently residing under color of law," a Medi-Cal term for people the government knows are here and is not acting to remove.
• DACA. The state's freeze eligibility chart lists DACA, and other deferred action, as PRUCOL with full scope Medi-Cal for adults. If you have DACA and no Medi-Cal, apply now and tell the county you have DACA.
• Green card holders in the five year waiting period. The same chart shows full scope Medi-Cal for them.
• TPS. The freeze chart lists people granted TPS, or with a pending TPS application, as restricted scope for new applicants 21 and older. Restricted scope still covers emergencies and pregnancy.
• Asylum applicants and other statuses. Ask your county worker which row of the chart fits you, and ask for the answer in writing.

Mistake to avoid: do not assume you are shut out. Apply, list your real situation, and let the county decide. A "no" for full Medi-Cal can still mean "yes" for restricted scope.

How do I apply for Medi-Cal?

You can apply four ways: online, by phone, in person at your county office, or by mail.

Steps

1. Pick one way to apply. Online at BenefitsCal or Covered California, by phone, in person, or by mail. See all four ways (DHCS).
2. List everyone in your home the application asks about. Covered California says to list all family members, whatever their status. Each person's eligibility is looked at separately. A parent without papers can apply for a citizen child.
3. Ask before you guess. If you are unsure how to fill in a family member who is not applying, ask the county worker or a clinic enrollment helper before you send it.
4. Send what the county asks for. The county may ask for proof of income, address or identity. Answer every letter by its due date.
5. Watch for the decision letter. It will tell you which kind of Medi-Cal you got: full or restricted scope.

Get free help with the form

• East Palo Alto: Ravenswood Family Health Network's Eligibility and Enrollment team, 650-330-7416, at 1885 Bay Road.
• San Mateo County: Human Services Agency, 1-800-223-8383. Service center at 2415 University Avenue, East Palo Alto.
• Santa Clara County: Benefits Assistance Center, (408) 758-3800.

What happens next: the county reviews your application and mails a decision. If it says no, or gives you less than you expected, keep the letter and call one of the free helpers on this page.

How do I keep my Medi-Cal?

Renew on time, keep your address current, and act fast if it ends. If you already have full Medi-Cal, the 2026 freeze does not take it away.

• Renew on time. Your county mails a renewal packet. Fill it out. Send it back by the date on the letter.
• Keep your address and phone number current with your county, so every letter reaches you.
• Open every letter. A missed form is the most common way people lose coverage they could have kept.
• If your Medi-Cal ends, act fast. You have three months to sign up again. After three months, the state treats you as a new applicant, and the freeze applies. You could then get only restricted scope Medi-Cal.

Mistake to avoid: canceling Medi-Cal out of fear. If you are an undocumented adult and you cancel, you may not be able to get full Medi-Cal back. Talk with a trusted legal helper first. See Will using health care hurt my immigration case?

What changes in 2027?

Three changes are set for Medi-Cal members the state lists as having "unsatisfactory immigration status." That group is wider than people without papers. It includes undocumented members, green card holders still in the five year waiting period, and people with PRUCOL status, such as DACA and U visa holders. A new way to get care comes in January, then a monthly premium and a dental cut in July.

January 1, 2027: Fee for Service

DHCS says these members leave their Medi-Cal health plan and get care through Fee for Service. It applies to babies, children, pregnant members, adults and members with disabilities in this group. The state says it changes how you get care, not whether you stay covered.

• Bring your Medi-Cal Benefits Identification Card (BIC) to every visit starting January 1, 2027. Health plan cards will not work. Lost your BIC? Ask your county or use BenefitsCal to replace it.
• Some extra services end. Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports exist only in health plans, so they stop for this group. Community Health Worker, doula and chronic care management services stay.
• Medicines stay covered through Medi-Cal Rx. Specialty mental health and drug or alcohol treatment stay with your county.
• DHCS says it will mail notices about the move starting December 1, 2026. Open them.
• Find a doctor who takes Fee for Service with the state's Find care page or the Medi-Cal Help Line, 1-800-541-5555.

What to do now: ask your doctor or clinic, "Will you take Fee for Service Medi-Cal in 2027?" If you use a wheelchair, walker or oxygen, call the Help Line to check that your equipment stays covered.

July 1, 2027: a monthly premium

Many adults in this group will pay a monthly fee, called a premium, to keep full Medi-Cal. The DHCS chart shows the premium for ages 19 to 59 for undocumented adults and for people with DACA, other deferred action and U visas. For some groups, such as green card holders in the five year wait, it starts at age 21.

• Who does not pay: adults 60 and older, children under 19, pregnant people and for one year after, and people under 26 who were in foster care on their 18th birthday. Green card holders past the five year wait do not pay.
• How much: not set yet. It will be $30 to $50 per person each month. State law sets that range, and the governor will set the exact amount in May 2027 (LAO, checked October 23, 2026). The 2026 to 2027 budget plan expects $50. The state's Medi-Cal FAQ and some county pages, including San Mateo County's, still show $30, the amount set in 2025. Your county will send the final amount by letter.
• If you do not pay: your Medi-Cal changes to restricted scope.

Plan for it now. At the top of the range, $50, a couple would pay $100 a month. If that is hard, ask your county worker what help exists before July 2027.

July 1, 2027: dental for emergencies only

Adults in this group (19 and older, or 21 and older for some statuses) keep emergency dental care, such as help for tooth pain, infections and pulling a tooth. Full dental care ends. The state budget moved this cut from July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2027. Children, pregnant people and former foster youth under 26 keep full dental.

What to do now: if you need fillings, cleanings or other dental work, ask your dentist about getting it done before July 1, 2027.

What is restricted scope (emergency) Medi-Cal?

It is limited Medi-Cal for people who cannot get full Medi-Cal because of immigration status. It covers three kinds of care:

• Emergency care
• Pregnancy care
• Nursing home care

It is not full coverage. It does not pay for regular checkups or ongoing care. Apply the same way you would for full Medi-Cal. The county decides which kind you get.

In an emergency

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Federal law requires hospitals that take Medicare and have an emergency department to give a medical screening exam to anyone who comes in, regardless of ability to pay, and to stabilize an emergency medical condition or transfer the person safely.

After the emergency, ask the hospital's financial or enrollment office to help you apply for Medi-Cal. Emergency Medi-Cal may help pay the bill.

Mistake to avoid: waiting at home because you are afraid of the cost or of questions. In an emergency, go.

What can I get if I cannot sign up for Medi-Cal?

Your county and local clinics can still help. Here is what is open near East Palo Alto.

San Mateo County: ACE

San Mateo County says legal status is not required for county funded coverage. ACE (Access and Care for Everyone) gives health coverage to low income adults 19 and older who live in the county and do not qualify for other programs.

• Cost: the ACE page lists a $360 application fee. Most members then pay $360 a year, in full or $30 a month. The county health page says the fee can be waived based on income, and most visits have a $15 copay that can also be waived. Ask about both.
• Where you get care: San Mateo Medical Center and its clinics, Ravenswood Family Health Center in East Palo Alto, and North East Medical Services in Daly City.
• How to apply: call the Health Coverage Unit at 650-616-2002, or ask for a Community Health Advocate at a San Mateo Medical Center clinic or at Ravenswood.

Santa Clara County: PCAP

The Primary Care Access Program (PCAP) is a low cost county program for primary and preventive care. The county's rules: age 19 or older, living in Santa Clara County, household income at or below 650% of the federal poverty level, and no other coverage such as full Medi-Cal, Covered California, Medicare or job insurance.

• You pick a community clinic and get your care there.
• Specialty care and hospital stays need approval first. Dental and vision are not covered. Copays may apply.
• How to apply: call (888) 363-3394, option 1, or visit a participating clinic and ask for an Enrollment Counselor.
• The PCAP rules list age, county residence, income and no other coverage. They do not list immigration status. Santa Clara Valley Healthcare says its hospitals and clinics are open to everyone regardless of immigration status and that patients are not asked about status when they come for care.

Santa Clara County: HAP

The Healthcare Access Program (HAP) helps pay bills at county hospitals and clinics for people who are uninsured or have high costs. At or below 400% of the federal poverty level, care can be free. Discounts reach up to 650%.

• Call: 866-967-4677 (TTY 711), Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Bring: proof of identity and proof of income.
• The HAP page does not mention immigration status.

Community health centers

Federally funded health centers may not deny you care because you cannot pay. They must offer a sliding fee based on income and family size. If your income is at or below the federal poverty level, they must give a full discount, though a small fee is allowed. Find one at Find a Health Center.

In East Palo Alto: Ravenswood Family Health Center, 1885 Bay Road. Its Eligibility and Enrollment team, 650-330-7416, helps people sign up for coverage. Ravenswood also has clinics in Mountain View, Sunnyvale and Palo Alto.

What to bring to a county program or clinic

• Proof of who you are
• Proof of where you live
• Proof of your income
• Any letter you got from Medi-Cal, especially a denial

Each program sets its own list. Ask when you call.

Mistake to avoid: going without care for a year because you were told "no" once. Ask every program you might fit. San Mateo and Santa Clara both have options for adults who cannot get full Medi-Cal.

How do I get care for my children?

Apply for full Medi-Cal for every child under 19. Your child's status does not matter, and neither does yours.

• Children 0 to 18 can get full Medi-Cal no matter their immigration status. Other rules, such as income, apply.
• The 2026 adult freeze does not apply to children.
• Children do not pay the 2027 premium, and they keep full dental.
• Children are part of the 2027 move to Fee for Service if the state lists them with "unsatisfactory immigration status." Their coverage stays; bring their BIC card to visits from January 1, 2027.
• Mental and behavioral health care stays covered for youth.

Steps

1. Apply for each child online at BenefitsCal, by phone, by mail or at a county office.
2. List your household as the form asks. A parent without papers can apply for a child.
3. Pick a doctor or clinic once coverage starts, and book a checkup.
4. Keep the renewal date on your calendar. A child can lose coverage over a missed letter too.

Other help for children

• WIC: food, nutrition help and breastfeeding support for children under 5. California's WIC eligibility check asks about where you live, your situation and your income. It does not ask about immigration status. Call 1-800-852-5770, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. See Food help.
• School meals: every California public school student can get free breakfast and lunch every school day. There is no income test.
• Teen counseling: in California, a young person 12 or older who is mature enough can agree to outpatient counseling on their own. Parents are usually included unless the counselor decides that would not be right. See Where your child can get mental health help.

Mixed status families: your children's benefits are not treated as benefits you received under public charge, though officers may look at them when they review family money and support. Read Will using health care hurt my immigration case? before you decide anything.

I am pregnant. What can I get?

Full Medi-Cal, during your pregnancy and for one year after, whatever your immigration status. Apply as soon as you know you are pregnant.

Steps

1. Apply for Medi-Cal now. Online at BenefitsCal, by phone, by mail or in person. Tell them you are pregnant.
2. Start prenatal care. If you do not have a doctor yet, call a community health center such as Ravenswood, 650-330-7416, or find one at Find a Health Center.
3. Sign up for WIC. Call 1-800-852-5770. Bring ID, proof of address, proof of income and proof of pregnancy if you have them.
4. Apply for your baby after birth. Your baby can get full Medi-Cal too.

What else to know

• No premium. Pregnant people do not pay the 2027 premium, during pregnancy and for one year after.
• Fee for Service from January 1, 2027 also applies to pregnant members in the state's "unsatisfactory immigration status" group. Ask your prenatal clinic now whether it takes Fee for Service Medi-Cal.
• Full dental continues during pregnancy and for one year after.
• If you were not eligible for full Medi-Cal before, restricted scope Medi-Cal also covers pregnancy care.
• If you work, California may pay you while you are off for pregnancy and to bond with your baby, even without a Social Security number. See Pregnant and working.

Mistake to avoid: waiting until late in pregnancy to apply. Early care keeps you and your baby safer.

Can I get Covered California?

It depends on your status. Covered California is the state's health insurance marketplace. It is for people who are lawfully present. People who are not lawfully present cannot enroll.

• Undocumented: not eligible for Covered California. Look at Medi-Cal, restricted scope Medi-Cal and county programs above.
• DACA: after a federal rule change in August 2025, DACA recipients can no longer enroll in Covered California. You may still get Medi-Cal if you meet the income and household rules.
• Green card holders and many other lawfully present immigrants: can enroll.
• Starting in 2027, financial help to lower the cost will go only to certain groups: green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and COFA migrants. Covered California lists people with TPS among those who will lose financial help.
• Mixed status families: list every family member on the application. Each person's eligibility is looked at separately.

What to do now: if you have TPS or another status that will lose financial help in 2027, check your costs for next year during open enrollment and ask a Covered California enrollment helper about Medi-Cal.

A note on public charge: the state says Covered California financial help can now count in public charge reviews for some people. See the next sections.

Where can I get mental health care?

Your county's behavioral health line, your clinic, or Medi-Cal. Mental health care is health care, and asking for help is a strong step.

• San Mateo County ACCESS Call Center: (800) 686-0101, TTY 711, 24 hours a day. For residents with Medi-Cal or no insurance. Staff speak English, Spanish and Chinese, with a free interpreter for other languages.
• Santa Clara County: the county call center serves residents with Medi-Cal, Medicare or no insurance, with interpreters in all county languages. Staff can check whether you qualify for Medi-Cal and help you sign up.
• Ravenswood counseling: for children and adults. Call (650) 330-7400.
• Medi-Cal helpline: 1-800-541-5555.

Full Medi-Cal includes mental health care. In 2027, specialty mental health care stays with your county even after the move to Fee for Service.

If you or someone you love is in danger right now, call or text 988, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day. For Spanish, dial 988 and press 2, or text AYUDA to 988. In a life threatening situation, call 911.

For the full guide, see Mental health care without fear.

Will using health care hurt my immigration case?

For most immigrants already in the United States, no. Public charge does not apply to most people. But it changed on September 18, 2026, and for some green card cases, Medi-Cal can now count. If you have or plan a green card case, get legal advice before you start or stop any benefit.

What public charge is

Public charge is a test in some green card and visa cases. An officer looks at whether a person is likely to depend on the government. The officer must look at age, health, family, money and assets, and education and skills.

Public charge is an immigration rule, not a benefits rule. It does not decide who can get Medi-Cal.

Who it does not apply to

The state and San Francisco County say public charge does not apply to:

• U.S. citizens
• Green card holders, unless they leave the U.S. for more than 180 days in a row
• People applying for citizenship
• DACA applications and renewals
• TPS, asylum and work permit applications
• Refugees and asylees, and green card applicants based on asylum, refugee status, a U visa, a T visa, VAWA or SIJS
• People who are not seeking a green card

Who it applies to

Mainly people seeking a green card through a family petition or a job, and people applying for some visas.

What changed on September 18, 2026

• A new federal approach took effect. The 2022 rule was rescinded. USCIS now judges each case on all of its facts.
• Green card applications filed on or after September 18, 2026 are judged the new way.
• Benefits used on or after September 18, 2026: any means tested benefit may now be considered. The state names Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and Covered California financial help for some people.
• Benefits used before September 18, 2026: only cash aid for income and long term care paid by the government count, according to the USCIS Policy Manual.
• Applying counts too. USCIS says officers may also weigh an application or approval for a benefit made on or after September 18, 2026, unless you show you withdrew or disenrolled (USCIS, Chapter 7).
• Your children's benefits: USCIS does not count benefits your children or other relatives receive as yours. But if a child gets a benefit because your income is low, the officer may look at your low income.
• County and state programs: USCIS defines "government" as federal, state, tribal or local, and lists government health coverage as one kind of means tested benefit. It does not name emergency Medi-Cal, ACE, PCAP or HAP one by one. Treat them as programs that could be weighed, and ask a legal helper about your case.
• Court fight: California, other states, and cities and counties including San Francisco and Santa Clara County sued on September 14, 2026. As of October 21, 2026, we found no court order stopping the rule, and USCIS is applying it.

Steps

1. Check whether public charge even applies to you. Most people already here are not affected.
2. If you have, or plan to file, a family or job based green card case, talk with an immigration attorney or a DOJ accredited representative before you apply for or cancel any benefit.
3. Do not cancel your children's Medi-Cal out of fear. Ask first.
4. Bring your list to the legal helper: who in your home gets which benefit, and since when.

See Will using benefits like CalFresh hurt my immigration case? for the full picture. Get help from Free legal help in the Bay Area, and watch out for immigration scams. A notario is not a lawyer.

Is my information private, and can ICE come into a clinic?

Your health information is protected by law, and California limits immigration agents in clinics. There is one real concern about Medi-Cal records that you should know about.

At the clinic

• Your immigration status is private medical information. Under California law, your place of birth and your immigration status are protected like your health records when a clinic or health plan has them.
• Clinics may not share medical information for immigration enforcement, except in limited cases, such as with your written permission or under a court order or valid warrant.
• Private areas are protected. Since September 20, 2025, a California law called SB 81 requires health care providers that get public funding to mark the areas where patients get care as not public. They may not let immigration agents into those areas without a valid judicial warrant or court order that allows it, unless the law requires access.
• Waiting rooms are different. Agents may be able to enter public areas like a waiting room.

See Can ICE arrest me at a courthouse, hospital or church? and If immigration agents come.

Medi-Cal records

This is real, and we will not pretend it is not. It is also only part of the picture. Canceling coverage does not undo what was sent, and losing care has real costs for your health. Weigh it with a legal helper, not alone.

Limits that apply to everyone

A counselor or doctor may share information to protect someone from a serious and immediate threat. Counselors must report suspected child abuse. These rules are the same whatever your status.

What changed in 2025 and 2026?

Here is what we confirmed, in order.

• August 2025: a federal rule change ended DACA recipients' ability to enroll in Covered California.
• September 20, 2025: SB 81 took effect, protecting private areas of publicly funded clinics and hospitals from immigration agents without a judicial warrant or court order.
• December 2025: a federal court ruling allowed limited Medi-Cal information about people not lawfully present to be shared with immigration enforcement. The lawsuit continues.
• January 1, 2026: the Adult Expansion Freeze began. Undocumented adults 19 and older can no longer newly sign up for full Medi-Cal. Current members keep it if they renew, with a three month window to come back.
• April 1, 2026: CalFresh was narrowed to citizens, U.S. nationals, green card holders, COFA residents and Cuban and Haitian entrants. This is food aid, not health care, but it touches many of the same families. See Food help.
• July 2026: the 2026 to 2027 state budget set the 2027 premium at $30 to $50 a month, with the governor to pick the exact amount in May 2027. It also delayed the adult dental cut from July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2027.
• September 18, 2026: the new public charge approach took effect.
• October 1, 2026: the 2025 federal law called H.R. 1 narrowed federally funded Medi-Cal to green card holders (after any five year wait), Cuban and Haitian entrants and COFA migrants (DHCS letter I 26-13). See the next section.

Coming next: notices about Fee for Service from December 1, 2026. Fee for Service on January 1, 2027. The premium, the adult dental cut, and the end of state full coverage for some refugees, asylees and parolees on July 1, 2027. Fewer groups getting Covered California financial help in 2027.

I am a refugee, asylee or parolee. What changed in October 2026?

You keep full Medi-Cal for now. California pays for it. Here is what DHCS says:

• Who is affected: refugees and asylees who do not yet have a green card, humanitarian parolees (parole of one year or more), and survivors of domestic violence or trafficking with a pending immigration case. DHCS letter I 26-13 also names people granted withholding of removal, conditional entrants and Amerasian immigrants who are not green card holders.
• Until June 30, 2027: you get state funded full scope Medi-Cal.
• From July 1, 2027: DHCS's own pages disagree. The changes page says this group can get only pregnancy related care and emergency services. The DHCS chart (accurate as of August 2026) says refugees 21 and older move to emergency only Medi-Cal, while asylees and parolees keep full Medi-Cal with emergency only dental and, ages 21 to 59, pay the premium. Ask your county worker, in writing, which rule applies to you, and keep every county letter.
• If Medi-Cal has the wrong status for you, contact your county by December 1, 2026, DHCS says.
• If you also have Medicare, call your county now. The letter says some adults over 21 in these groups lose help paying Medicare costs.

Refugees and asylees are exempt from public charge, so this change is about coverage, not your immigration case.

Who can help for free in the Bay Area?

These are public offices, county programs, clinics and legal aid groups. Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

Sign up for Medi-Cal and county coverage

• San Mateo County Human Services Agency: Medi-Cal applications and renewals. 1-800-223-8383, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Service center at 2415 University Avenue, East Palo Alto. Upcoming changes to Medi-Cal (smcgov.org)
• San Mateo County Health Coverage Unit: ACE. 650-616-2002. ACE (hpsm.org)
• Santa Clara County Benefits Assistance Center: Medi-Cal. (408) 758-3800.
• Santa Clara County PCAP: (888) 363-3394, option 1. HAP: 866-967-4677.
• Ravenswood Family Health Network: Eligibility and Enrollment, 650-330-7416. 1885 Bay Road, East Palo Alto. ravenswoodfhn.org

Get care

• Community health centers near you: Find a Health Center
• San Mateo County ACCESS (mental health): (800) 686-0101, 24 hours
• WIC: 1-800-852-5770

Get legal advice before you change benefits

• Bay Area Legal Aid free advice line: 1-800-551-5554
• Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County: (650) 558-0915
• State funded immigration legal services: CDSS list by region
• More options: Free legal help in the Bay Area

Problems with a health plan

• California Department of Managed Health Care Help Center: 1-888-466-2219, for problems with a plan it regulates.
• Medi-Cal helpline: 1-800-541-5555.

Anything else: in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, call or text 211 for free help finding local services. Elsewhere, check Find your local 211. See 211.

Questions people ask

Can I still get Medi-Cal if I am undocumented? If you had full Medi-Cal by January 1, 2026, yes, if you renew on time. If not, adults 19 and older cannot newly sign up for full Medi-Cal, but you can get restricted scope Medi-Cal and county programs. See Medi-Cal for adults in 2026.

Can my citizen child get Medi-Cal if I have no papers? Yes. Apply for your child. Every child under 19 can get full Medi-Cal, whatever their status or yours.

Will my child's Medi-Cal hurt my green card case? The state says your children's benefits are not treated as yours, but officers may look at them when reviewing family money. Ask a legal helper before you cancel anything.

I lost my Medi-Cal because I missed a letter. Is it gone? Not yet. You have three months to sign up again. Call your county today.

How much will Medi-Cal cost me in 2027? If you are an adult 19 to 59 without citizenship or a green card past the five year wait, a monthly premium likely starts July 1, 2027. The governor will set the exact amount in May 2027, between $30 and $50 a month per person. Your county will send the final amount.

Can I go to the emergency room without insurance? Yes. Hospitals with an emergency department must screen and stabilize anyone with an emergency, regardless of ability to pay. Ask about emergency Medi-Cal afterward.

Can ICE come into the clinic? Into private care areas of publicly funded clinics, not without a valid judicial warrant or court order, unless the law requires it. Waiting rooms are different. See Can ICE arrest me at a hospital?

Does the clinic tell immigration my status? California law treats your status as private medical information and limits sharing for immigration enforcement. Medi-Cal records are a separate concern. See Is my information private?

Should I cancel Medi-Cal to be safe? Not on your own. Canceling does not erase information already shared, and an undocumented adult may not be able to get full Medi-Cal back. Talk with a legal helper first.

I have DACA. What can I get? Full Medi-Cal, if you meet income and household rules. The state's freeze chart lists DACA as full scope, so you can apply even if you never had Medi-Cal. Not Covered California. From 2027 you move to Fee for Service, and from July 2027 adults 19 to 59 pay the premium. See Which benefits can I get?

I have TPS. What changes? If you are 21 or older and apply now, the state's freeze chart shows restricted scope Medi-Cal, not full scope. If you already had full Medi-Cal, renew on time to keep it. Covered California says people with TPS lose its financial help starting in 2027. See TPS and parole.

Is there free dental care? Children, pregnant people and former foster youth under 26 on Medi-Cal keep full dental. Adults in the state's "unsatisfactory immigration status" group, including undocumented adults and adults with DACA, keep full dental until July 1, 2027, then emergency dental only. PCAP does not cover dental.

Can my teenager see a counselor without me? A young person 12 or older who is mature enough can agree to outpatient counseling on their own. Parents are usually included unless the counselor decides otherwise.

What if I do not live in San Mateo or Santa Clara County? Medi-Cal rules are the same statewide. County programs differ. Call your county Medi-Cal office, or 211 where it serves your county, and ask what exists for adults who cannot get full Medi-Cal.

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You are not alone in this. Every family on this page has a next step, and many people in our community are ready to help you take it. Make the call, book the checkup, and take care of the body you have been given. We are holding hope with you.