What is happening
Starting January 1, 2027, Medi-Cal members with unsatisfactory immigration status (UIS) move out of Medi-Cal managed-care health plans and into Medi-Cal Fee-for-Service. The state says this follows new federal guidance. The group includes:
- undocumented members;
- green-card holders in the five-year waiting period;
- members in "PRUCOL" status.
It includes children, pregnant members, adults and people with disabilities.
What does not change
You keep full-scope Medi-Cal if you stay eligible and renew on time. Medi-Cal still pays for covered care, and you still do not pay for it. In the state's words, the change "affects how members get care, not whether they stay covered."
What does change
- Your card. From January 1, 2027, bring your Medi-Cal Benefits Identification Card (BIC) to appointments. Your health plan card will not work.
- Your doctors. You can see any doctor, clinic or hospital that accepts Medi-Cal Fee-for-Service. Not every doctor in your current plan does. Ask your doctor's office now.
- Some services end or move. Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports are not offered in Fee-for-Service. Specialty mental-health care continues through your county behavioral-health plan.
- Approvals for care. Fee-for-Service has its own approval rules. If you are waiting for a procedure, equipment or a specialist visit, ask your doctor's office whether a new approval will be needed after January 1. The state has said more guidance on existing approvals is coming.
- People in PACE stay in PACE.
What to do now
- Watch your mail for letters from Medi-Cal and your county.
- Keep your address and phone number current with your county or BenefitsCal.
- Renew on time.
- Ask each of your doctors: "Will you accept Medi-Cal Fee-for-Service starting January 1?"
- If you use a wheelchair, walker or oxygen, call the Medi-Cal Help Line 1-800-541-5555 to plan ahead.
A separate change happened October 1
A federal law changed which immigration categories qualify for federally funded Medi-Cal. Groups that may be affected, according to Los Angeles County's notice, include:
- lawful permanent residents who have not met the five-year waiting period and have no exemption;
- refugees and asylees;
- Amerasian immigrants;
- people granted withholding of deportation or removal;
- conditional entrants admitted before April 1980;
- people paroled into the U.S. for one year or more, including humanitarian parolees (for example, some Afghan and Ukrainian arrivals);
- battered non-citizens and their parents or children;
- victims of human trafficking.
Some groups are not affected, including lawful permanent residents past the five-year wait, certain Cuban and Haitian entrants, and COFA migrants.
People affected can keep state-funded full-scope Medi-Cal through June 30, 2027, if otherwise eligible. Details: What Changed in Medicaid on October 1 for Certain Noncitizens, and What Did Not (see the article) (Source: Los Angeles County DPSS notice of Sept 30, 2026.)
If you have trouble getting care, Medi-Cal has complaint and appeal forms. A legal-aid organization or HICAP can help.
About this page
This page is general information and is not advice about your own treatment. It does not create a physician–patient relationship. For a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Medical disclaimer.