No insurance in San Jose? Start with Medi-Cal — and renew on time
If you live in San Jose without health insurance, the first door is not a marketplace and it is not an emergency room. It is Medi-Cal — and if you used to have it and lost it, the first move may be even simpler than a new application.
Medi-Cal is bigger than most people think
California expanded Medi-Cal. Adults with income up to 138% of the poverty line — $22,025 a year for one person, $45,540 for a family of four — qualify for full coverage. Children qualify at much higher incomes: up to 266% of poverty, and in Santa Clara County kids can stay covered up to 322% through C-CHIP. Pregnancy coverage runs to 213%, with the Medi-Cal Access Program above that. There is no open-enrollment window and no deadline — you can apply any day of the year, free, at BenefitsCal.com or by phone at (408) 758-3800 (Medi-Cal-only line: (408) 758-3600).
Lost your Medi-Cal at renewal? You may have 90 days
The most common way people in this county lose coverage in 2026 is not earning too much — it is a renewal form that never got finished. If that happened to you, you have a 90-day cure period: give the county the missing information within 90 days and your coverage comes back with no gap, no new application. That clock may be running right now. Call the county Medi-Cal line before you assume you have to start over.
Already have Medi-Cal? Renewing is the whole game
On January 1, 2026, California froze new full-scope enrollment for undocumented adults 19 and older. Existing members keep their coverage — only if they renew on time. Children and pregnant people were never frozen. If a county letter is sitting unopened on your counter, that letter is now the most valuable piece of mail in your house. Our guide walks through it step by step: Medi-Cal renewal 2026: keep your coverage (in Guides).
Over the Medi-Cal line? The window is open soon
Covered California’s open enrollment runs November 1, 2026 – January 31, 2027, and for 2027 the state adds its own subsidy for households up to 200% of poverty ($31,920 for one person, $66,000 for four) on top of federal help. Enroll by December 31 for coverage that starts January 1.
What to do this week
- If you are uninsured, apply at BenefitsCal.com — one application sorts Medi-Cal from Covered California.
- If you lost coverage, call (408) 758-3600 and ask whether you are inside the 90-day cure period.
- If you are covered, open the county mail and finish the renewal.
Not sure which one you are? The checker sorts it in two minutes: /check/?start=1
Checked against DHCS and Covered California official pages, October 2026.
