Medicaid Work Requirements in California

The rule starts January 1, 2027 for Medi-Cal expansion adults. You show you meet it at your next renewal after that date. County Medi-Cal offices handle eligibility.

Updated October 30, 2026 · Based on official sources listed below · How we research · Leer en español

Jan 1, 2027

Start date · checked at your next renewal

80 hrs or $580

per month, or half-time school

Medi-Cal

Medi-Cal expansion adults (MAGI new adult group)

1-800-541-5555

Medi-Cal Helpline (Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.)

Check your situation in California

When it starts in California

Early September 2026: DHCS began mailing required outreach letters to about 4.8 million expansion members.
January 1, 2027: the requirement starts. Each member is checked at their next renewal.

Who has to meet it

The rule applies to people ages 19 to 64 in the Medicaid adult expansion group, unless they are pregnant, have Medicare, or are exempt. You meet it in a month with 80 hours of work, community service, a work program, or school (in any mix), by going to school at least half-time, or with at least $580 in monthly income.

You are exempt if, for example, you care for a child 13 or younger or a person with a disability, are pregnant or postpartum, are American Indian or Alaska Native, are medically frail, are a veteran with a total (100%) VA disability rating or TDIU, were in foster care at 18 and are under 26, are in drug or alcohol treatment, meet SNAP or TANF work rules, or left jail or prison in the last 3 months. See the full exemption list.

Court ruling, October 29, 2026. In Massachusetts v. Oz, a federal court struck down the CMS rule's extra "significantly impairs" test for the medically frail exemption. If you are in any of the five medically frail groups in the law, you qualify. California was one of the parties that sued, so the court also gave California six months of relief from federal enforcement of its medically frail decisions while it updates its systems. The January 1, 2027 start date did not change, and CMS may appeal. What the ruling means.

How California checks and how to report

Months checked: You must show you met the rule at your next renewal after January 1, 2027. DHCS will try first to confirm this with medical claims, work, school, or volunteer data it already has.

DHCS says work requirement questions are being added to BenefitsCal and the CalHEERS application and renewal. You can also work with your county Medi-Cal office. DHCS has told members they do not need to act yet.

Other things to know in California

DHCS estimates from May 2026 (reported by the California Health Care Foundation): 4.8 million people in the group, about 2.2 million expected to be exempt, and about 1.1 million who could lose coverage by 2029–30.

Official tools and contacts

Report and upload: BenefitsCal
Medi-Cal Helpline (Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.): 1-800-541-5555
DHCS: tracking federal impact on Medi-Cal eligibility
DHCS contact page
Agency: California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)

Federal protections that apply in California

The state must check its own records before asking you for proof.
If it can't confirm you meet the rule, you get a notice and at least 30 days to respond, and your coverage continues meanwhile.
You get written notice and the right to a fair hearing before coverage ends, and you can reapply at any time.
If you lose Medicaid for not meeting the rule, you cannot get marketplace premium tax credits for those months. Learn more.

Frequently asked questions

When do Medicaid work requirements start in California?

January 1, 2027 (checked at your next renewal). Current members are usually checked at their first renewal on or after that date.

How many months does California check?

You must show you met the rule at your next renewal after January 1, 2027. DHCS will try first to confirm this with medical claims, work, school, or volunteer data it already has.

How do I report my hours or an exemption in California?

Who do I call about Medi-Cal work requirements?

Medi-Cal Helpline (Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.): 1-800-541-5555

Can I lose Medi-Cal right away if I don't meet the requirement?

No. Federal law requires a notice, at least 30 days to show you comply or are exempt, continued coverage during that time, and fair hearing rights before coverage ends.