Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program. Under PPACA, most Medi-Cal eligibility compares a household's Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) with the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
Adults age 19 through 64: household income up to 138% of FPL
Children under age 19: household income up to 266% of FPL
Pregnant persons: 213% of FPL (DHCS)
Why 138 and 266? The statutes say 133% for the adult expansion group (Welf. & Inst. Code §14005.60) and 261% for children (§14005.26). MAGI rules add a 5% income disregard (§14005.64): 133 + 5 = 138 and 261 + 5 = 266. The FPL dollar amounts update every year, but these percentages stay the same.
No asset test: for MAGI-based eligibility, savings and other assets do not count, so there is no spend-down. Only income matters.
Mixed families: at 220% of FPL, the children qualify for Medi-Cal (under 266%) while the parents (over 138%) look to Covered California. When a child turns 19, the adult 138% limit applies instead.