§ 14007.5. — 14007.5. (Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 105, Sec. 53.)

(a)
Persons who are not citizens or nationals of the United States shall be eligible for Medi-Cal, whether federally funded or state-funded, only to the same extent as permitted under federal law and regulations for receipt of federal financial participation under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act, except as otherwise provided in this section and elsewhere in this chapter.
(b)
In accordance with Section 1903(v)(1) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396b(v)(1)), a person who is not a citizen or a national of the United States shall only be eligible for the full scope of Medi-Cal benefits if the person has an immigration status described in Section 1641(b) of Title 8 of the United States Code. For purposes of this section, persons who
are not citizens or nationals of the United States and who are “permanently residing in the United States under color of law” shall be interpreted to include all persons who are not citizens or nationals of the United States residing in the United States with the knowledge and permission of the United States Department of Homeland Security and whose departure the United States Department of Homeland Security does not contemplate enforcing and with respect to whom federal financial participation is not available under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act.
(c)
A person who has an immigration status described in Section 1641(b) of Title 8 of the United States Code, but who is subject to the limitation described in Section 1613(a) of Title 8 of the United States Code, or a person who is otherwise permanently residing in the United States under color of law, shall be eligible for the full
scope of Medi-Cal benefits, subject to the service limitations described in subdivision (l).
(d)
Any person who is not a citizen or national of the United States who is otherwise eligible for Medi-Cal services, but who does not meet the requirements under subdivision (b) or (c), shall only be eligible for care and services that are necessary for the treatment of an emergency medical condition and medical care directly related to the emergency, as defined in federal law, except as described in Sections 14007.65, 14007.7, and 14007.8. For purposes of this section, the term “emergency medical condition” means a medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity, including severe
pain, such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in any of the following:
(1)
Placing the patient’s health in serious jeopardy.
(2)
Serious impairment to bodily functions.
(3)
Serious dysfunction to any bodily organ or part. It is the intent of this section to entitle eligible individuals to inpatient and outpatient services that are necessary for the treatment of the emergency medical condition in the same manner as administered by the department through regulations and provisions of federal law.
(e)
(1)
(A)
No sooner than July 1, 2027,
all individuals described in subdivisions (c) and (d), except for those individuals described in subparagraph (B), shall be required to pay a monthly premium as a condition of eligibility for the full scope of Medi-Cal benefits, subject to the service limitations described in subdivision (l), if they are otherwise eligible for benefits under this chapter.
(B)
The following individuals are not subject to the monthly premium requirements described in subparagraph (A):
(i)
Individuals
under 19 years of age.
(ii)
Individuals over 59 years of age.
(iii)
Individuals who are pregnant.
(2)
Monthly premiums imposed under this subdivision shall be thirty dollars ($30) per beneficiary.
(3)
An individual required to pay premiums pursuant to this subdivision, after no more than 90 days of nonpayment of the monthly premium, is only eligible for medically necessary pregnancy-related services, and care and services necessary for the treatment of an emergency medical condition and medical care directly related to the emergency, as defined in federal law. All outstanding premium balances shall be paid in full as a condition of continued eligibility for the full scope of Medi-Cal benefits.
(4)
The monthly premium requirements and service limitations described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) shall not apply to nonminor dependents, as defined in Section 11400, and individuals who but for their immigration status are eligible for Medi-Cal pursuant to Section 14005.28. These individuals shall remain eligible for the full scope of Medi-Cal benefits until their 26th birthday.
(f)
Pursuant to Section 14001.2, each county department shall require that each applicant for, or beneficiary of, Medi-Cal, including a child, shall provide their social security number account number, or numbers, if they have more than one social security number.
(g)
(1)
In order to be eligible for benefits under subdivision (b) or (c), an applicant or beneficiary shall present United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services registration documentation or other proof of satisfactory immigration status from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
(2)
Any person who meets all other program requirements but who lacks documentation of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services registration or other proof of satisfactory immigration status shall be provided a reasonable opportunity to submit the evidence. For purposes of this paragraph, “reasonable opportunity” means 30 days or the time it actually takes the county to process the Medi-Cal application, whichever is longer.
(3)
During the reasonable opportunity period under paragraph (2), the county department shall process the applicant’s application for medical assistance in a manner that conforms to its normal processing procedures and timeframes.
(h)
(1)
The county department shall grant only the Medi-Cal benefits set forth in subdivision (d) of this section or in Section 14007.65, 14007.7, or 14007.8 to any individual who, after 30 calendar days or the time it actually takes the county to process the Medi-Cal application, whichever is longer, has failed to submit documents constituting reasonable evidence indicating a satisfactory immigration status for Medi-Cal purposes, or who is reported by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to lack a satisfactory immigration status for Medi-Cal purposes.
(2)
If a person who is not a citizen or national of the United States has been receiving Medi-Cal benefits based on eligibility established prior to the effective date of this section and that individual, upon redetermination of eligibility for benefits, fails to submit documents constituting
reasonable evidence indicating a satisfactory immigration status for Medi-Cal purposes, the county department shall discontinue the Medi-Cal benefits, except for the care and services set forth in subdivision (d) of this section or in Section 14007.65, 14007.7, or 14007.8. The county department shall provide adequate notice to the individual of any adverse action and shall accord the individual an opportunity for a fair hearing if the individual requests one.
(i)
To the extent permitted by federal law and regulations, a person who is not a citizen or national of the United States applying for services under subdivisions (b) and (c) shall be granted eligibility for the scope of services to which they would otherwise be entitled if, at the time the county department makes the determination about their eligibility, the person meets either of the following requirements:
(1)
The person
has not had a reasonable opportunity to submit documents constituting reasonable evidence indicating satisfactory immigration status.
(2)
The person has provided documents constituting reasonable evidence indicating a satisfactory immigration status, but the county department has not received timely verification of the person’s immigration status from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
(3)
The verification process shall protect the privacy of all participants. A person’s immigration status shall be subject to verification by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, to the extent required for receipt of federal financial participation in the Medi-Cal program.
(j)
If a person does not declare status as a lawful permanent resident or person permanently residing under color of law, or
as a person legalized under Section 210, 210A, or 245A of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act (Public Law 82-414), Medi-Cal coverage under subdivision (d) of this section or in Section 14007.65, 14007.7, or 14007.8 shall be provided to the individual if they are otherwise eligible.
(k)
If a person subject to this section is not fluent in English, the county department shall provide an understandable explanation of the requirements of this section in a language in which the person is fluent.
(l)
(1)
No sooner than July 1, 2026, all individuals described in subdivisions (c) and (d) who are 19 years of age or older shall not be eligible for dental services set forth in this chapter, except for the treatment of an emergency medical condition and
medical care directly related to the emergency, as defined in federal law.
(2)
Paragraph (1) shall not apply to nonminor dependents, as defined in Section 11400, and individuals who but for their immigration status are eligible for Medi-Cal pursuant to Section 14005.28. These individuals shall remain eligible for the full scope of Medi-Cal benefits until their 26th birthday.
(m)
Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the State Department of Health Care Services may implement, interpret, or make specific this section, in whole or in part, by means of plan or county letter, information notices, plan or provider bulletins, or other similar instructions, without taking any further regulatory
action.
(n)
Subdivisions (e) and (l) shall be implemented only after the director determines, and communicates in writing to the Department of Finance, that systems have been programmed for implementation.

Legislative History

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 105, Sec. 53. (AB 144) Effective September 17, 2025.