Lost Your Medi-Cal? Here's What To Do Now (2026 Guide)

If you just opened your Social Security check and noticed money missing, or you got a medical bill for something that used to be free, you're probably here because you searched some version of "I lost my Medi-Cal, now what?" First, you're not alone. Second, this is often fixable, especially if you act in the next few weeks rather than the next few months.

Here's what's actually going on, why it's happening to so many people in California right now, and exactly what to do next.

Why This Is Happening to So Many People Right Now

Three things are colliding in California right now, and any one of them can cause a Medi-Cal case to close without much warning:

Your renewal date snuck up on you. Medi-Cal doesn't renew everyone in January. Every case has its own renewal month, based on when the case was first approved. Some people get renewed automatically in the background through what the county calls an "ex parte" renewal. Everyone else gets a paper packet in the mail. If that packet gets missed, lost in the mail, or turned in late, the case can close without a phone call first.

The Medi-Cal asset test is back. California eliminated the asset test in 2024, but it was reinstated starting January 1, 2026, for many Medi-Cal programs. If you're over 65, disabled, or enrolled in a Medicare Savings Program, this may be what affected you.

A new six-month renewal rule is coming for some people in 2027. This does not affect everyone, and if you're 65 or older, it probably does not affect you. It is still worth understanding if you're under 65.

The Medi-Cal Asset Test Is Back: What Actually Changed

For a couple of years, California let people qualify for Medi-Cal regardless of how much they had in the bank; only income mattered. As of January 1, 2026, the asset test returned for most Medi-Cal programs outside the expansion categories, including programs that overlap heavily with Medicare beneficiaries:

• Aged, Blind, and Disabled Medi-Cal
• Medi-Cal with a Share of Cost, sometimes called "medically needy"
• The 250% Working Disabled Program
• Long-Term Care Medi-Cal
• Medicare Savings Programs: QMB, SLMB, QI, and QDWI, which help pay Medicare premiums and, depending on the program, deductibles and coinsurance

Children and adults under 65 who qualify through the ACA expansion group are not affected. People whose Medi-Cal is tied to SSI were already subject to a separate, stricter asset limit.

The new limits, as of 2026:

• $130,000 for an individual
• $195,000 for a couple
• Add $65,000 for each additional person in the household
• If one spouse is in a nursing home or receiving long-term care and the other is not, the community spouse can generally keep up to $162,660 under the 2026 Community Spouse Resource Allowance

What counts as an asset, and what doesn't? Generally exempt assets include your primary home, one vehicle, household goods and personal belongings, retirement accounts from which you're already receiving regular payments, certain life insurance policies, and burial plots or prepaid irrevocable burial arrangements. Countable assets generally include checking and savings balances, CDs, a second vehicle, rental or investment property, and cash.

You don't have to report assets immediately. Current beneficiaries report their assets at their next regular renewal after January 1, 2026. If your renewal month is November, for example, you generally address this at your November 2026 renewal. If you don't know your renewal month, finding it is the first step.

If you think you're over the limit, talk to a qualified Medi-Cal planning attorney before your renewal. There may be lawful ways to spend down excess assets, such as necessary home repairs, paying debt, replacing an old vehicle, or arranging permitted burial expenses. The rules are specific, and doing it incorrectly can create additional problems. This is not legal advice; it is a reason to get individualized advice before your renewal arrives.

If You're Also on Medicare, This Hits Differently

Losing Medi-Cal can affect more than extra benefits. It may unwind two parts of your coverage at once.

Your Part B premium. If Medi-Cal or a Medicare Savings Program was paying your Medicare Part B premium, losing that assistance means Social Security may start withholding the premium from your check again. There can be a lag while the systems catch up, so you may receive a Medicare bill before automatic deductions resume.

Your Medicare Advantage plan. If you're enrolled in a Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan, or D-SNP, losing Medi-Cal does not normally remove you immediately. Plans provide a temporary deeming period while you try to restore eligibility. If Medi-Cal is not reinstated by the end of that period, you may have to leave the D-SNP. The replacement coverage can have a different network, drug list, and costs.

Before agreeing to a quick plan change, pause and compare how each option covers your doctors and medications. Learn more about Medicare, Medi-Cal, D-SNPs, and Medicare Savings Programs, or ask Ashley for help reviewing your situation.

What to Do Right Now If You Already Lost Medi-Cal

1. Find out exactly what happened and when. Call the San Diego County ACCESS line at 1-866-262-9881, Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, or check your case at BenefitsCal.com. Ask whether the closure was caused by a missed renewal, an asset, an income change, or something else.
2. Ask about the 90-day window. Federal rules generally allow a renewal to be submitted within 90 days after a procedural termination without starting a brand-new application. Ask specifically whether the reconsideration period applies to your case and whether coverage can be restored to the date it closed.
3. Gather your paperwork quickly. Collect recent proof of income and, if the closure was asset-related, statements showing current account balances.
4. Don't say yes to the first person who calls. It is okay to say, "Let me call you back," before changing Medicare plans, especially before leaving a D-SNP.
5. Ask about Medicare Savings Programs separately from full Medi-Cal. Even if you no longer qualify for full Medi-Cal, you may still qualify for QMB, SLMB, or QI assistance with your Part B premium.

Getting Ahead of This Before It Happens Again

Find your renewal month and put a reminder on your calendar 60 days before it. If it is not listed clearly in your paperwork or online account, call the county and ask.

Consider naming a trusted authorized representative. California's Medi-Cal Authorized Representative form, MC 306, can allow a family member or another trusted person to receive information and help with your case so a missed notice is more likely to be caught.

If you're under 65, a new rule is expected to require some Medi-Cal adults ages 19–64 without a dependent child under 19 to renew every six months beginning in 2027. The precise implementation timing may change, so confirm the current rule with your county eligibility worker.

If you're 65 or older, this six-month rule generally does not apply; your regular renewal remains annual for now.

Frequently Asked Questions

I lost my Medi-Cal. Now what do I do?

Call the county (in San Diego County: 1-866-262-9881) or check BenefitsCal.com to find out why the case closed, ask specifically about the 90-day reconsideration window, and get your income and asset documentation together as fast as possible. If you're on Medicare, also ask about Medicare Savings Programs (QMB/SLMB/QI) separately — you may still qualify for premium help even if full Medi-Cal is out of reach.

Can I get my Medi-Cal back after losing it?

Often, yes — especially if it closed because of a missed renewal rather than an actual change in your income or assets. Ask the county about reinstating within the 90-day window.

Will losing Medi-Cal affect my Medicare coverage?

It can affect two things: Social Security will resume withholding your Part B premium from your check, and if you're in a Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP), you'll eventually be moved into a different Medicare Advantage plan or Original Medicare if Medi-Cal isn't reinstated within your plan's three-to-six-month deeming period.

What is the Medi-Cal asset limit in 2026?

$130,000 for an individual, $195,000 for a couple, plus $65,000 for each additional household member. It applies to Aged/Blind/Disabled Medi-Cal, Share of Cost Medi-Cal, Long-Term Care Medi-Cal, the 250% Working Disabled Program, and Medicare Savings Programs. It does not apply to the ACA expansion group or SSI-linked beneficiaries.

Do I have to report my assets right away?

No. Current beneficiaries report assets starting at their first regular renewal after January 1, 2026 — not before.

Is the asset test the same thing as the 2027 six-month renewal rule?

No — they're two separate changes affecting different groups. The asset test (effective 2026) mainly affects aged, blind, and disabled Medi-Cal and Medicare Savings Programs. The six-month renewal rule (effective early 2027) only affects Medi-Cal adults ages 19–64 without a dependent child under 19.

Get Help Understanding Your Next Step

If you're navigating a Medi-Cal or Medicare mix-up in San Diego County, Ashley can help you understand what happened and review your Medicare-related options, including Medicare Savings Programs, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Supplement plans. Contact Medicare with Ashley, schedule a free consultation, or call (619) 947-2325. Ashley works with clients seven days a week.

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This article is for general information and isn't legal or tax advice. Medi-Cal rules can change and vary by individual circumstance. Confirm specifics with your county eligibility worker or a qualified attorney before making financial decisions based on this information.