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Medicaid Planning · California

California Medicaid look-back rules

Medicaid look-back rules rules for California.

Published: September 4, 2026. Last checked: September 2, 2026.

Look-back period

Nominally 30 months, phased in: for a September 2026 application or admission, January 1 through August 31, 2026 is reviewed; transfers during 2024 and 2025 are not reviewed

Source: DHCS All County Welfare Directors Letter 25-18 [state-medicaid-agency] — Dated October 9, 2025; effective January 1, 2026

Transfer-penalty divisor

$14,440 per month statewide

Source: DHCS All County Welfare Directors Letter 26-03 [state-medicaid-agency] — Dated February 9, 2026; applies on or after January 1, 2026

How the state administers the rule

The person must have been above the asset limit and the nonexempt transfer must exceed the applicable private-pay-rate figure; undue hardship is evaluated first. There is no partial-month period, the maximum is 30 months from transfer, and DHCS approval is required.

Source: DHCS All County Welfare Directors Letter 25-18 [state-medicaid-agency] — Dated October 9, 2025; effective January 1, 2026 Additional authority: DHCS All County Welfare Directors Letter 26-03 [state-medicaid-agency] — Dated February 9, 2026; applies on or after January 1, 2026

Sources and update policy

Methodology & sources

Checked at least annually and whenever the state publishes a new transfer-penalty divisor or administration rule.

This page is educational and is not legal advice.