San Diego County Activates CalFresh and Medi-Cal Eligibility Restrictions, 400K+ Enrollees Affected
Effective April 1, 2026, lawfully present noncitizens in San Diego County lost CalFresh eligibility, with an 80-hour monthly work requirement for most CalFresh adults starting June 1 and Medi-Cal work requirements taking effect January 2027. The changes affect approximately 400,000 CalFresh enrollees and 800,000+ Medi-Cal members in San Diego, overwhelming FQHCs with eligibility navigation needs as patients seek to maintain coverage.
Part of
- Medicaid work-requirement implementation
State implementation and early enforcement
- Immigration enforcement, public charge and immigrant eligibility
Eligibility changes for lawfully present immigrants
Sources for this story
Times of San DiegoSources for your board packet
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Affected FQHCs
FQHC Talent. (2026, April 1). San Diego County Activates CalFresh and Medi-Cal Eligibility Restrictions, 400K+ Enrollees Affected. Source: Times of San Diego. Retrieved September 28, 2026, from https://www.fqhctalent.com/intel/san-diego-calfresh-medi-cal-eligibility-wave-april-2026
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