MENDOCINO CO., 9/24/25 – The Mendocino County Department of Social Services is giving residents a heads-up about Medi-Cal eligibility requirements to go into effect on Jan. 1.
According to Rachel Ebel-Elliott, the county’s deputy director of social services, approximately 42,000 residents, or 47% of the county population, are enrolled in Medi-Cal aka Medicaid.
Eligibility is no longer based simply on income
Starting next year, Medi-Cal will consider assets when reviewing eligibility for older adults and people with disabilities as part of the application or renewal process. That means income alone is no longer the sole tool in determining eligibility.
A single person applying for or renewing Medi-Cal can have up to $130,000 in countable assets. For each additional person in the household, the limit goes up by $65,000, up to a maximum of 10 people.
Assets include cash and money in checking and savings accounts; investments like stocks and bonds; property apart from a primary residence, such as a vacation home or rental; or owning more than one car.
An applicant’s primary residence, primary vehicle, household and personal items, and certain accounts, such as retirement 401ks or IRAs, don’t count.
Current Medi-Cal recipients will have their assets reviewed at their annual renewal.
Eligibility has changed for immigrants seeking to enroll
Also starting Jan. 1, adults without “satisfactory immigration status” will not be allowed to newly enroll in full-scope Medi-Cal.People without “satisfactory immigration status” include people without legal immigration status and DACA recipients.
They will still be eligible for emergency Medi-Cal, which only covers emergencies or life-threatening care.
More information on Medi-Cal eligibility for immigrants is available here.
Immigrants currently enrolled can keep their coverage for now
Individuals currently enrolled in full-scope Medi-Cal will stay covered regardless of immigration status as long as they complete their annual renewal.
People who fail to renew will not be able to sign up again and can only receive emergency Medi-Cal.
Children under 18 and pregnant women can still get full-scope Medi-Cal no matter their immigration status.
Coverage for pregnant women only lasts through the pregnancy and 12 months after the pregnancy ends.
Why are these changes happening?
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation removing Medi-Cal’s asset test in 2024, making it easier for older adults and people with disabilities to qualify.
When President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” was signed into law in July it required all states to reinstate the asset test to limit eligibility to people who are considered the most in need.
For the past decade, California also allowed adult immigrants lacking permanent legal status to receive full-scope Medi-Cal.
The “Big Beautiful Bill” is requiring states to cut Medicaid spending, resulting in Gov. Newsom and the state legislature to freeze new enrollments, which is also anticipated to help with the state’s budget shortfalls.
In Mendocino County, the changes could mean some older adults and people with disabilities may lose Medi-Cal coverage if their savings exceed the new asset limits, even if their incomes remain low.
According to representatives from the county, local clinics and hospitals may also see more pressure as adult immigrants lacking permanent legal status who are not already enrolled lose the ability to sign up for full-scope coverage beginning in 2026, leaving many to rely solely on emergency care.
Supporters say the return of asset limits ensures Medi-Cal resources are focused on residents most in need, while the freeze on new enrollments for adult immigrants helps the state manage ballooning healthcare costs.
For more information, contact Mendocino County Department of Social Services or call (707) 463-7700 in Ukiah and (707) 962-1000 in Fort Bragg.
Does the article give you the false belief Newsom is advancing illegal immigrant healthcare while the Trump signed bill is taking it away? When actually, Newsom and the State legislature agreed to “a budget deal in June 2025 that California will stop enrolling new adult patients without legal status in Medi-Cal for low-income people starting in 2026. This agreement was a direct result of future budget deficits ranging between $17 billion to $24 billion annually.” Seems that part was left out. Just easier to blame Trump and skip over Newsom? I hope people are smarter than that. (Footnote: Intentionally leaving out important information to mislead or misrepresent the truth is referred to as “lying by omission.”)
Legal and it’s also helping those White people living with anxiety issues from food insecurity to paying doctors so buck up buttercup because a blue tsunami is on its way round
Better to take care of our own than sending billions to Argentina
I was confused on that Trump said states had to. There was an article earlier this year that Newsom did this in his own to cover debt accumulating fighting Trump in law suits, etc
This worries me. Like oil changes, if people can get inexpensive preventative care it will help folks stay healthy. If you skip oil changes and then have to shell out for a new engine guess what. Our hospitals are not going to be able to collect from already marginally funded people. Everyone loses
How hard is it to understand that we are broke? In debt! Quit looking to the government to pay for things your grandparents knew was their own responsibility.
“For the past decade, California also allowed adult immigrants lacking permanent legal status to receive full-scope Medi-Cal.” This statement is factually untrue. It’s been a slow phase in starting in 2016 with children under 19. In 2022 it added19 thru 25. Then in 2022 50 and older became eligible. It was just in January 2024 that it opened to all. That’s not the only stupid thing they did in 2024, they also eliminated the assets test. Of course, they are going to be swamped with new applicants. That’s why they have the budget shortfall. The story makes it sound like people are going to be hurt with the 130,000 limit when in fact , it’s a vast improvement over the way it was in 2021. I know this because we tried getting my dying stepfather on medical but he had 5000 in savings which disqualified him. They also had a “look back” period of 30 months so applicants can’t just give their assets away. The went from overly restrictive to nearly unrestricted in just a couple of years and they really can’t figure out why they have a cash flow problem? You can blame Trump all you want, but Newsom got us in this pickle all by himself. This “news” article has a bit too much blue tint to be factual news. Just a quick question, does anyone know anywhere in the world, where I can go and get free medical care? Certainly not Mexico.
When do u.s.soil born and naturalized citizens that used legal means to be here, get prioritized and coddled by the health care system? If you came to the USA ILLEGALLY, you should NOT be protected and aided by American Citizens who work at different levels of government and don’t follow or care what the US CONSTITUTION says. If you don’t belong here or don’t like it here, pack your belongings and get out of the USA.
Why on earth are we providing medical insurance that’s tax payer funded to people who aren’t here legally? That’s insanity. Aren’t we already in enough debt? Look at the homelessness issue as well. We have our own citizens to take care of first. If you’re here illegally you should get NOTHING paid for by legal tax payers. That might encourage them to go home and come back the legal way!