Federal immigration-category changes begin October 2026, but affected Medi-Cal members keep state-funded full scope through June 30, 2027

DHCS says federal law narrows federally funded full-scope Medicaid eligibility for certain immigration categories starting October 1, 2026. Its current member guidance identifies some refugees and asylees without a Green Card, humanitarian parolees admitted for at least one year, and survivors of domestic violence or human trafficking with a pending immigration case as potentially affected.

The same guidance says affected adults receive state-funded full-scope Medi-Cal through June 30, 2027; starting July 1, 2027, they are limited to emergency and pregnancy-related services. The earlier record incorrectly presented October 1, 2026 as immediate loss of Medi-Cal coverage and projected a sliding-fee demand surge without evidence.

Eligibility and language-access teams should use the current DHCS category chart, the member's official notice, and the county eligibility system at the point of service; a public alert is not an eligibility determination. Finance should scenario-test only with deidentified aggregate counts and should not book an organization effect from this statewide rule.

Talent leaders and candidates should not infer a hiring change. Never place immigration status, survivor status, notices, case records, or patient identifiers in FQHC Talent.