AB 2208: Medi-Cal: cost sharing and accessibility.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is in part governed by, and funded pursuant to, federal Medicaid program provisions.

Existing federal law, enacted on July 4, 2025, sets forth various changes to Medicaid eligibility with regard to community engagement reporting, redeterminations, cost sharing, and retroactive coverage, among other factors, for certain Medicaid populations, including beneficiaries between 19 and 64 years of age, inclusive, with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level, commonly known as Medicaid expansion adults.

The above-described federal law requires the state, beginning on October 1, 2028, to impose deductions, cost sharing, or similar charges determined appropriate by the state, in an amount greater than $0, with respect to certain care, items, or services furnished to Medicaid expansion adults, with income exceeding 100% and up to 138% of the federal poverty level, as determined by the state. The federal law excludes certain services from these provisions and prohibits the charge from exceeding $35.

This bill would, no sooner than October 1, 2028, set a copayment of $0.01 for nonemergency services for the above-described population, as specified. The bill would authorize the provider to collect, retain, or waive the copayment amount. The bill would not apply the copayment requirements to emergency services, family planning services, or any services under certain categories. The bill would prohibit a service provider from denying care or services to an individual solely because of nonpayment of copayment.

The bill would create an exemption from a copayment requirement for any visit, service, device, or item for which the Medi-Cal program’s payment is $10 or less. The bill would prohibit the total aggregate amount of deductions, cost sharing, or similar charges imposed for all individuals in a family from exceeding 5% of the family income.

Existing law requires the department to develop a single, accessible, standardized paper, electronic, and telephone application for insurance affordability programs, including Medi-Cal, for use by all entities authorized to make an eligibility determination for those programs. Existing law authorizes all insurance affordability programs to accept self-attestation for age, date of birth, family size, household income, state residence, pregnancy, work or community engagement activities or exemptions, and any other applicable criteria needed to determine eligibility, to the extent permitted by state and federal law.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 6

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. August 13, 2026In committee: Held under submission.
2. August 3, 2026In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
3. July 2, 2026Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
4. July 2, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 2.) (July 1).
5. June 22, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
6. June 3, 2026Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
7. May 27, 2026In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
8. May 26, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 58. Noes 19. Page 5309.)
9. May 18, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
10. May 14, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 3.) (May 14).
11. April 29, 2026In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
12. April 8, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 3.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.