Thursday, September 10, 2026

Federal Medi-Cal Rules Narrow Oct. 1 for Some Immigrants in Pasadena and Altadena; County Offers Free Webinars

Refugees, asylees, humanitarian parolees and survivors of domestic violence or trafficking are the groups the state has named

Federal rules narrowing who qualifies for full-scope Medi-Cal take effect Oct. 1, and Los Angeles County is holding free webinars in several languages to help Pasadena and Altadena residents work out whether they are affected.

Nobody in the affected group loses coverage that day. The state says people who are affected will keep state-funded full-scope Medi-Cal until June 30, 2027, and that starting July 1, 2027 they will be able to get only pregnancy-related care and emergency services.

The California Department of Health Care Services names the affected groups as refugees and asylees, humanitarian parolees admitted to the United States for at least a year, and survivors of domestic violence or human trafficking with a pending immigration case.

The change comes from Section 71109 of the federal law known as H.R. 1, which amends the definition of a Qualified Non-Citizen effective Oct. 1. From that date, federal matching funds for full Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program benefits are generally limited to U.S. citizens and nationals, lawful permanent residents, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and migrants from countries with a Compact of Free Association with the United States, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The federal agency has also told states it will not require them to cover the affected groups with state-only money.

The California Budget & Policy Center, citing state estimates, has put the number of people who could be left without full-scope coverage at up to 200,000 refugees, asylees, survivors of domestic violence and other immigrants statewide, while noting the real figure may be lower and the estimate could be revised.

Some people in the affected categories may qualify for another program. Refugees, people newly granted asylum and trafficking survivors holding a T visa or a letter from the federal Office of Trafficking in Persons may be able to get coverage through Refugee Medical Assistance if they cannot get federally funded Medi-Cal, the state department said.

The Department of Public Social Services said it is opening the next phase of its Keep Your Benefits campaign, under the heading “The Changes. Your Options. Our Support.,” to explain the Medi-Cal and CalFresh changes to residents and community groups. The department said it is offering free webinars in multiple languages on select dates through Oct. 1; registration is through the department’s Webex page, linked from its Keep Your Benefits site.

Medi-Cal is not the only program changing. Since April 1, certain non-citizens including asylees, refugees, parolees, people with deportation or removal withheld, conditional entrants and trafficking victims have not been eligible for CalFresh, though they may qualify if their status changes to lawful permanent resident. Since June 1, some adults 18 to 64 receiving CalFresh have had to meet work requirements to keep benefits beyond three months in a 36-month period unless they are exempt. Medi-Cal work requirements begin Jan. 1, 2027, and county officials have estimated they will affect about 1.4 million residents. Also in October, the federal share of the cost of emergency care for undocumented residents falls from 90 percent to 50 percent.

The county’s advice to anyone who may be affected is the same as it has been through the year’s earlier changes: keep contact information current, watch the mail for renewal notices and return them on time. Members can apply or renew at BenefitsCal.com or reach the Department of Public Social Services at (866) 613-3777.

Locally, ChapCare by AltaMed, a federally qualified health center at 1855 North Fair Oaks Avenue, Suite 100, in Pasadena, offers enrollment help and treats patients regardless of ability to pay.