1. California Health Insurance
  2. California Health Care
  3. Covered California Insurance
  4. PUBLIC CHARGE – No Longer an Issue for Covered CA or Medi-Cal

PUBLIC CHARGE – No Longer an Issue for Covered CA or Medi-Cal

Posted: April 14, 2021

Enrollment in Covered California and Medi-Cal is No Longer Considered a Public Charge

If you are enrolling yourself or your family in Covered California or in Medi-Cal, you no longer have to be concerned about that affecting citizenship or being a “Public Charge.”

u.s. citizenship and immigration services document with blue circle around it

President Biden Rescinds Trump’s 2019 Regulation

The Public Charge ruling, which was of concern during the time of President Trump, has been rescinded by President Biden. This is no longer an issue and will not have any bearing on applications for citizenship.

USCIS No Longer Considers the “Public Charge”

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has stopped applying the 2019 Public Charge regulation to all pending applications and petitions. Purchasing insurance through Covered California and receiving financial help to pay for the insurance does not make an individual a “Public Charge”.

Covered California, Medi-Cal and Mixed Families

Also, Medi-Cal for adults or children is NO LONGER considered a public charge.

You may enroll through Covered California. You may enroll in Medi-Cal. Or, you may enroll a mixed family where adults are on Covered California and the children are enrolled in Medi-Cal. None of these would be considered a “Public Charge.”