Dramatic Changes Coming to Medi-Cal in 2026
Your Wake-Up Call — Act Now While There’s Still Time
If you or someone you love needs long-term care, this may be your moment to act. Beginning January 1st, 2026, California’s Medi-Cal program will dramatically tighten eligibility rules, reinstating both the Asset Assessment and the Lookback Rule. These changes could cost families their benefits — or their savings — if they fail to prepare in time.
Our updated free eBook, Understanding Long-Term Care Medi-Cal Planning, explains exactly what’s changing, what these new rules mean for you, and how to protect yourself before it’s too late. Download your copy now.
The Asset Limit Returns in 2026
For the past two years (2024–2025), California temporarily suspended Medi-Cal’s asset test for long-term care eligibility. During that time, assets were not counted against applicants, an unprecedented window of flexibility. That ends on January 1st, 2026.
https://www.bottilaw.com/news/dramatic-changes-coming-to-medi-cal-in-2026/
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I just qualified for this rather recently. If you qualify for Medi-Cal in California, you qualify for Medicaid as well.
I don't have assets over $130,000 so this will not affect me BUT it will others with money over this amount (they do not count IRA's, etc.).
A lot of people were told by their estate attorneys to sign-up for Medi-Cal as there were no longer any restrictions.
Now, to remain on Medi-Cal and Medicaid, you would have to liquidate assets to remain on the "Partnership".
Luckily, I don't use Medi-Cal for many things but it is helping me out some.
This is BAD NEWS for the people I mentioned. 
Starting January 1, 2026, Medi-Cal will be changing for undocumented adults, and we’re here to help you understand what that means.
Already have full Medi-Cal?
You can keep it, and you still qualify, as long as you stay signed up by continuing to renew.
If you don't already have Medi-Cal, apply NOW.
Partnership HealthPlan of California wants to reassure our undocumented members that we are here for you. We understand these changes are complicated and scary, but we remain committed to helping you get the care you need.
More at the link below:
https://partnershiphp.org/Community/Pages/KeepYourMediCalBenefits.aspx
This isn't just undocumented adults, this applies to all Medi-Cal recipients. There is now an asset limit coming back in to place effective Jan. 1, 2026; there was none the past two years.
This could affect a person in a nursing home that has more than the asset limit of $130K (seems that IRA's and some other such accounts of this nature are not included in the asset limit).
