What health care can immigrants get?

Many low-income legal immigrants can get regular Medi-Cal or Healthy Families. Undocumented immigrants can get restricted Medi-Cal for emergency situations.

Who qualifies for Medi-Cal?

You may be eligible for Medi-Cal if:

• You are low-income
• You are a child, a parent, pregnant, elderly, a person with disabilities or a relative caring for a child
• You live in California and plan to stay; and
• You are in the U.S. legally or a lawful permanent resident.

For more information please read Many immigrants can get Medi-Cal and Healthy Families and Immigrants and Health Care.

What if I am an undocumented immigrant?

You may still be eligible for restricted Medi-Cal. Restricted Medi-Cal will cover emergency situations, health care for pregnant women, kidney dialysis, nursing home care and treatment for breast and cervical cancer.

You may be eligible for Medi-Cal if:

• You are low-income
• You are a child, parent, person with a disability or elderly, and
• You live in California and plan to stay.

Immigration status does not matter for restricted Medi-Cal. For more information please read Undocumented immigrants can get restricted Medi-Cal.

Will it hurt my sponsor if I get Medi-Cal?

It depends. Some examples of when your sponsor does not have to repay your health expenses include:

• When you get services before having your green card
• In an emergency situation
• If you get treatment for a contagious disease
• If you and your family members have worked 40 quarters or more and
• For any services you receive after becoming a U.S. citizen.

There are other situations where your sponsor will not be responsible for health services that you receive. For additional information please read Will it hurt my sponsor if I get healthcare? and contact one of our local Health Consumer Centers.

Should I worry about public charge?

Most immigrants can get health care without hurting their immigration status. This includes getting Medi-Cal and Healthy Families. However, immigrants who need nursing home or mental health services should contact the Health Consumer Center before receiving health benefits. For additional information please read Should I worry about public charge? and contact one of our local Health Consumer Centers.

Know your rights

Whether or not you are a citizen, it is important that you and your family know your rights. The following brochures will describe what rights you have and what you should do if you are contacted by the police.

• Know Your Rights! from the National Lawyers Guild National Immigration Project
• ¡Atención! ¡Protéjase de las Redadas de Inmigración! from the National Lawyers Guild National Immigration Project
• National Immigration Law Center materials

Health care for immigrants brochures

The Health Consumer Alliance has these materials to help you. Click on the link to find the brochures translated into 14 languages:
Brochures

• Getting Medi-Cal for your child quickly
• Healthy Families: Help for your child
• Many legal immigrants can get regular Medi-Cal or Healthy Families
• New Medi-Cal law and immigrants
• New Medi-Cal proof of citizenship requirements
• Should I worry about public charge?
• Undocumented immigrants can get health care
• Will it hurt my sponsor if I get health care?

Issue Briefs

• Federally Mandated Language Access for Limited English Proficient Persons
• Healthy Families Application Approval Process Flow Chart
• Immigrants and Health Care
• Medi-Cal & Healthy Families Income Levels
• Medi-Cal Eligibility Flowcharts
• Medi-Cal State Residency Requirements

Where can I get more help?

The Health Consumer Alliance helps people get the health care they need. We can help you with your legal problems getting health care. Click on Local Centers to find the health consumer center near you.