How to renew your Medi-Cal coverage

Last verified: June 2026

Yellow envelope

= action required

60 days

To respond to renewal form

90 days

Reconsideration after cutoff

(800) 541-5555

Medi-Cal member helpline

Always respond to renewal notices from your county

Missing a renewal deadline is the most common reason people lose Medi-Cal — even when they are still eligible. A yellow envelope in the mail means your county needs information from you.

Two major renewal rule changes are coming in 2026 and 2027

January 1, 2026: Asset limits were reinstated for some Medi-Cal programs (seniors, disabled enrollees). At renewal, those groups now face a $130,000 individual / $195,000 couple resource limit. January 1, 2027: Adults ages 19–64 without children under 19 will have their Medi-Cal eligibility checked twice a year instead of annually. Source: L.A. Care Health Plan, confirmed June 2026.

How Medi-Cal renewal works in California

California's Medi-Cal renewal happens annually for most enrollees, based on the date of original enrollment. DHCS and your county office use an "ex parte" process first: they check your eligibility using data from the Social Security Administration, California's Employment Development Department, and prior application records. If the existing data confirms you are still eligible, Medi-Cal renews automatically and you receive an auto-renewal letter.

If the county cannot confirm eligibility from existing data, they send a renewal form asking you to provide updated information. Per DHCS (dhcs.ca.gov/medi-cal/keep/, last updated June 5, 2026): the auto-renewal letter reads, "We already have your information. Your Medi-Cal will stay active. You don't need to do anything." If you receive this letter, no action is required.

The renewal form arrives in a yellow envelope. If you receive a yellow envelope, read it carefully — it means the county needs updated information from you. The deadline to respond is typically 60 days.

Where and how to renew Medi-Cal

Renew online at BenefitsCal.com. Log in to your case, look under "Things to Do," and submit your renewal there. You can also upload supporting documents directly. For general questions, call the Medi-Cal Member Helpline at (800) 541-5555 or contact your county office directly (find county numbers at dhcs.ca.gov/medi-cal/contact/).

Sign up for text or email alerts through BenefitsCal. Members who opt in receive reminders about upcoming renewal dates and requests for information — a practical way to avoid missing a deadline because a mailed notice was lost.

Report any changes to your information within 10 days of the change, per DHCS (dhcs.ca.gov/medi-cal/keep/update-your-information/). This includes changes to your address, income, household size, marital status, or pregnancy status. Failure to report changes promptly is one of the most common reasons coverage is incorrectly terminated.

If you miss the renewal deadline: two windows to restore coverage

California gives you two chances to keep coverage if you miss a renewal deadline. First, you have 60 days from the date the renewal form was sent to provide the requested information. If you respond within 60 days, Medi-Cal continues without interruption.

If your Medi-Cal is discontinued because you missed the 60-day deadline, you still have a second chance: a 90-day reconsideration period from the discontinuation date. During this window, you can provide the required information and have your coverage reinstated without filing a new application. Per L.A. Care Health Plan's guidance (citing DPSS rules): "You have up to 90 days from the discontinuation date to provide the information needed to re-establish coverage."

After 90 days from discontinuation, you must submit a completely new Medi-Cal application. Act as quickly as possible — the sooner you contact the county, the more likely you can restore coverage without a gap.

Semi-annual renewals start January 2027 for some adults

Starting January 1, 2027, California will check eligibility every six months — instead of annually — for Medi-Cal members who are ages 19 to 64 and do not have children under age 19 in the household. This change was confirmed by L.A. Care Health Plan in June 2026.

If this applies to you, you will need to renew twice per year. DHCS will notify affected members before the change takes effect. Keep your BenefitsCal account current and your contact information up to date to receive notice.

What to have ready for Medi-Cal renewal

If you receive a renewal form (the yellow envelope), gather this information before responding.

Your current mailing address — the most common reason people lose Medi-Cal is a notice sent to an old address
Current phone number and email address for county notifications
Income documentation for all household members — pay stubs, benefit award letters, employer letters
Information about any new household members, or anyone who moved out since your last renewal
Any other benefits your household receives (Social Security, SSI, CalFresh, unemployment)
Employer information if you changed jobs since your last renewal
Immigration documents if your status has changed

Seniors and disabled enrollees: asset limits apply at renewal as of 2026

If you are 65 or older, blind, disabled, or enrolled in certain Medicare Savings Programs, the January 1, 2026 asset limit reinstatement affects your renewal. DHCS will check whether countable resources exceed $130,000 (individual) or $195,000 (couple). If your assets have grown above these thresholds, consult a Medi-Cal eligibility counselor or a legal aid attorney before your renewal date. California Health Advocates provides guidance at cahealthadvocates.org.

How to complete your renewal

1

Open the yellow envelope immediately

Read the entire notice. It will state exactly what information the county needs and the deadline to respond. Missing this deadline is the most common way people lose coverage.
2

Update your information

Report any changes since your last renewal: income, address, phone number, household members, or immigration status. Outdated contact information is the leading cause of missed notices and wrongful terminations.
3

Submit online at BenefitsCal.com

Log in to your BenefitsCal account, find "Things to Do," and complete the renewal. Upload supporting documents directly. You can also call (800) 541-5555 or mail the completed form to your county office.
4

Confirm your coverage was renewed

After submitting, wait for a confirmation notice. If you don't receive one within a few weeks, call your county social services office to verify your status. Don't assume coverage continued without confirming.

The 2023–2024 unwinding: if you lost Medi-Cal during that period

During the COVID-19 public health emergency (March 2020 – March 2023), federal law prohibited states from removing people from Medi-Cal. When that protection ended, California conducted a mass redetermination. Millions lost coverage nationally between April 2023 and late 2024 — many due to outdated addresses, not actual ineligibility. If you lost Medi-Cal during that period without receiving a renewal notice, you may still qualify. Reapply at BenefitsCal.com.

If your renewal is denied

A denial must state the specific reason in writing and explain your right to appeal. In California, you have 90 days from the denial date to request a State Fair Hearing through CDSS. File the appeal quickly — if you appeal before your coverage ends, you may be able to continue benefits during the hearing process.

Common renewal denial reasons: income reported above the threshold, failure to respond to the renewal packet, or a change in household composition. Many of these can be addressed by providing the correct documentation directly to the county rather than going through a formal appeal.

Contact your county social services office within the 90-day window. A reconsideration filed promptly can often restore coverage retroactively to the date it was lost. California Health Advocates (cahealthadvocates.org) provides guidance on navigating this process.

Report changes within 10 days

DHCS requires Medi-Cal enrollees to report changes that may affect eligibility within 10 days. Report through BenefitsCal.com or by calling your county office. Changes to report:

Change of address — the single most common cause of missed renewal notices
New job or change in income
Change in household size — new baby, someone moves in or out, marriage, divorce
Gaining or losing other health coverage
Change in immigration status
Move to a different California county
Death of a household member