Below are links to California state and local resources outlining Public Benefits and Medi-Cal changes and the actions providers and clients can take as these changes roll out this year.
Stay informed and let’s work together now to ensure our community members & clients can seek and maintain coverage and secure the care they need for stability.
Upcoming Changes
The San Francisco Human Services Agency (HSA) is the primary agency for public assistance, including food, cash, employment, and healthcare support for the City and County.
The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is the single state agency responsible for financing and administering CA’s Medicaid program, Medi-Cal, which provides health care services to low-income persons and families who meet defined eligibility requirements.
- Medi-Cal Program Changes: What Medi-Cal Members Need to Know, 2026-2027 (includes timeline of changes)
Information for Undocumented Californians
As of January 1, 2026, undocumented Californians aged 19 and older who currently do not receive Medi-Cal benefits are no longer eligible to enroll for full medical coverage through Medi-Cal. Exceptions apply for undocumented foster youth up to age 26 and pregnant people.
If you are an undocumented adult who already receives Medi-Cal, you can keep your benefits as long as you renew.
If you have coverage, you remain eligible as long as you stay enrolled – regardless of immigration status. Make sure to follow recertification instructions to keep your benefits.
- HSA/SFDPH Pronto Habrá Cambios en Medi-Cal
- HSA/SFDPH Medi-Cal Changes Coming Soon
- DHCS Immigration Status and Medi-Cal Eligibility – Common immigration statuses and Medi-Cal eligibility.
- Health Consumer Alliance (HCA) has developed a resource to guide to help people through these upcoming changes – Medi-Cal Changes and What You Need to Know Translations: Arabic, Armenian, Cambodian, Chinese(Traditional), Chinese(Simplified), Farsi, Hindi, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Lao, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Ukrainian, Vietnamese
- HCA Privacy Information for Immigrants with Medi-Cal
Webinars & Educational Opportunities
- Recorded Presentation: SFHSA Benefits 101 Webinar: Overview of Public Benefits Programs and Upcoming Changes. Presentation Slides: English | Spanish | Chinese | Filipino | Vietnamese | Russian. November 13, 2025.
- Presentation Slides: HR1, 2025 CA Budget, and Medi-Cal (with embedded links) from SF HIV FOG Open Enrollment Bootcamp XI, October 8, 2025.
DHCS Ambassadors Program
- Volunteer Information – Coverage Ambassadors are people who help people in their community find, better understand, or keep their health coverage
- Links to resources about Medi-Cal shared through the Program