A single adult can earn $55 more per month in 2024 and still qualify for MAGI Medi-Cal. The 2024 federal poverty level for income increased 3.3% from 2023. The increased monthly Medi-Cal income limit means some people will be able to keep their Medi-Cal health plans, while other people will find they lose their Covered California coverage.
MAGI Medi-Cal Monthly Income Increase of $55
A single adult can now have a monthly income of $1,732 per month and retain their Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) Medi-Cal. The higher monthly income, an increase of $55 over 2023, is based on 138 percent of the federal poverty level.
For a household of 2, one adult and one child, both household members will be Medi-Cal if the monthly income is under $2,352. Over that amount, up to $4,533 monthly income, the adult is eligible for Covered and the child retains Medi-Cal eligibility.
If the household monthly income is under 266 percent of the federal poverty level, dependents 18 years old and younger are Medi-Cal eligible. Three counties, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco, have a higher monthly income dollar figure for dependent Medi-Cal eligibility of 322 percent of the federal poverty level.
Medi-Cal Income Based Household Size
To read the income table, you must first determine your household size. Your Family Size is based on your tax household. That would be the primary tax filer, spouse, and dependents listed on the federal tax return. Roommates and relatives living with you but not on your tax return are not part of your Family Size for the purposes of the Medi-Cal income figures.
In this example, we have a Family Size of 4, two adults and two children. You find the number of household members in the Family Size column and then read across the columns of Adults (138%), Children (266%), and C-CHIP (322%.)
If the household income is less than $3,588 per month, everyone is eligible for MAGI Medi-Cal. A monthly income of between $3,589 and $6,916 has the adults eligible for Covered California and the subsidies and the children are on Medi-Cal. In most counties, if the monthly income is over $6,917, then adults and children are subsidy eligible through Covered California. If this family is in a C-CHIP county, then the children can retain Medi-Cal up to a monthly income of $8,372.
Medi-Cal, Covered California Annual Income
Medi-Cal focuses on the monthly income of the household. Covered California uses the annual income to determine the subsidies. A single adult must have an annual income of $20,783 to qualify for the Premium Tax Credit subsidy through Covered California.
However, an income over the minimum annual amount of 138 percent of the FPL for the household size does not guarantee a subsidy. The monthly income must still be over the minimum amounts. The Covered California application will screen for Medi-Cal eligibility based on your stated monthly income, regardless of your total annual income.
