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Public Charge

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) most recently updated its public charge regulation in 2022. Please visit the USCIS website for additional information. Applying for health insurance through Covered California or having free or low-cost insurance through Medi-Cal will not affect your immigration status, your chances of becoming a lawful permanent resident or your chances of becoming a U.S. citizen.

The only time Medi-Cal might affect you is if two things are true:

  • You are entering the U.S. or applying for lawful permanent residence (LPR), and

  • Medi-Cal is paying for your nursing home or other long-term care in a facility.

If you have questions about how your immigration status may impact your access to medical care, please call the Health Consumer Alliance at (888) 804-3536 to see if you are eligible for free legal services. For more information on public charge, see the National Immigration Law Center's factsheet here. For immigration law related questions, visit the Department of Social Services website for a list of community organizations that can provide free, confidential legal assistance related to public charge.