Information for Immigrants
Whether you are lawfully present, not lawfully present or part of a mixed-status family, Covered California can help you understand your options.
Anyone can apply.
Covered California and Medi-Cal use the same application.
When you apply, we check whether you may qualify for both programs, no matter your immigration status. While anyone can apply, not everyone will be eligible to get health insurance or financial help. Eligibility depends on factors like household size, income and immigration status.
Applying will not affect your immigration status or your chances of becoming a lawful permanent resident or U.S. citizen.
List everyone in your household on the application, regardless of immigration status or whether they are applying for insurance. Household size and income are needed to calculate program eligibility and financial help.
Coverage Options by Immigration Status
Lawfully Present
You may qualify for Covered California if you live in California and are lawfully present, with some exceptions. Depending on your income, you may get financial help for a Covered California plan or qualify for free or low-cost Medi-Cal.
Starting in 2027, only certain groups — such as green card holders — will be eligible for financial help to lower their monthly costs. President Trump signed H.R. 1, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which makes certain immigrant groups with legal status ineligible for financial help.
Because of this new federal law, some immigrants and their families will have higher monthly premium costs in 2027. What you pay for your health insurance now won’t change in 2026.
Only the following immigrant groups will be eligible for financial help to lower the cost of their health insurance in 2027:
- Lawful permanent residents (green card holders)
- Cuban and Haitian entrants
- Compact of Free Association (COFA) migrants
Some of the major immigrant groups who will no longer have financial help are:
- People granted asylum status
- Refugees
- Survivors of trafficking (T visa)
- People with Temporary Protected Status
- People with work visas
- Student visa holders
For more information about changes starting in 2027, see the Lawfully Present Immigrants (LPI) Consumer Fact Sheet.
What does this mean for me?
If you have health insurance through Covered California now, you can keep your financial help in 2026. You can continue to use your plan as usual.
But if you’re one of the people losing your financial help because of the federal rule change, your monthly premium payment and health care costs will likely go up in 2027.
The good news is that you can still keep your health insurance through Covered California in 2027.
This is hard news for many, but we’ll continue working to keep your health insurance as affordable as possible. While we do that, we’re here to guide you through this change.
What can I do now?
- Review your information. Make sure your information is up to date in your account. Update your application if your immigration status changed.
- Keep using your current health plan. Your current health plan costs are not changing in 2026. You will continue to get financial help in 2026.
- Shop for a new plan during the renewal period. Compare plan options and costs by using the Shop and Compare Tool.
Not Lawfully Present
People who are not lawfully present are not eligible for Covered California. You can still apply through Covered California to see whether you or someone in your family may qualify for Medi-Cal or another available program.
Medi-Cal eligibility has recently changed. Here is what currently applies:
- Children (ages 0-18): Eligible for full Medi-Cal coverage regardless of immigration status.
- Pregnant people: Eligible for full Medi-Cal coverage during pregnancy and for up to one year after the pregnancy ends, regardless of immigration status.
- Adults (ages 19 and older): Starting on Jan. 1, 2026, adults without a qualifying immigration status can no longer enroll in full Medi-Cal. If you were already enrolled before that date, you can keep your coverage, as long as you remain eligible — make sure to renew during your renewal month. See how Medi-Cal changes affect adult immigrants.
- Emergency care: Regardless of immigration status, everyone can access emergency Medi-Cal for serious medical emergencies that require immediate care, and emergency dental care for severe pain, infection or tooth removal.
If you are unsure whether these rules apply to you, contact your local Medi-Cal office.
DACA Recipients
As of August 2025, people with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) are no longer eligible to enroll in health insurance through Covered California. This is the result of a federal rule change that applies to all health insurance marketplaces nationwide, not just Covered California.
You are still eligible for Medi-Cal if you meet income and household size requirements. Use our Shop and Compare Tool to see what you may qualify for.
Mixed-Status Families
A mixed-status family has members with different immigration statuses.
List all family members on the application, regardless of their immigration status or whether they are applying for health insurance. Household size and income — including information about all members — are used to calculate financial help and determine eligibility for everyone in the family.
Each person’s eligibility is considered separately. Some family members may qualify for a Covered California plan, while others may qualify for Medi-Cal or another available coverage option — eligibility depends on each person's age and immigration status.
Public Charge and Your Immigration Status
“Public charge” is a term used in immigration law. It describes someone whom the government determines is likely to depend heavily on certain public benefits in the future. When you apply for admission, a visa or for a green card (lawful permanent residence) through a family-based petition or through a job, one reason your application may be denied is that the government thinks you are likely to become a public charge.
The federal government finalized a new rule beginning in September 2026 that changes how it determines whether someone is likely to become a public charge. Depending on your situation and immigration status, getting financial help for health insurance through Covered California may affect your green card application. Most consumers who are eligible for financial help in 2027 may not be subject to the public charge rule when they apply for admission or a green card.
The public-charge rule does not apply to green card applicants who are getting their green card based on:
- Asylum
- Refugee status
- U visa
- T visa
- Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
- Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
Everyone’s situation is different. If you have questions, talk with an attorney or a qualified immigration legal representative before making decisions about your immigration case or health insurance.
For questions about how your immigration status may affect your access to medical care, please visit the Health Consumer Alliance website or call them at (888) 804-3536.
They may be able to connect you with free legal services and help with access to care.
For immigration law-related questions, visit the California Department of Social Services website for a list of community organizations that can provide free, confidential legal help related to public charge.
This information may change based on future court decisions, and we will update this page if anything changes. Please check back for updates.
Find Out What You Qualify For
Not sure what insurance is available to you? Shop and Compare can help you check your options — including Medi-Cal — based on your household size and income.