State RegulationsCA specific✓ Verified · outline & fact-checked · Sep 2026Difficulty 2/5
In California, a child under age 19 may be eligible for Medi-Cal coverage based on family income up to what percentage of the federal poverty level (FPL)?
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why D is correct
Under California's MAGI-based eligibility rules, children under age 19 qualify for Medi-Cal when family income is at or below 266% of the federal poverty level. Adults aged 19-64, by contrast, qualify at the lower 138% FPL threshold. The higher threshold for children reflects California's commitment to covering children's health needs and means many children in working families are Medi-Cal eligible even when their parents are not.
Why the other options are wrong
- A) 138% FPL is the adult Medi-Cal MAGI threshold for ages 19-64, not the children's threshold.
- B) 400% FPL is the ceiling for premium tax credit (APTC) eligibility, not the Medi-Cal child income limit.
- C) 100% FPL is lower than the children's threshold; eligible children may have family income well above the poverty line.
Memory hook
Kids get Medi-Cal to 266% FPL; adults top out at 138%. Children's coverage threshold is higher.