Family PACT California Income Limits 2026 (Free Care)

Family PACT can cover family planning services at no cost if you live in California, meet the income limit, need those services, and cannot use other qualifying coverage for them. For one person, the 2026 income limit is $2,660 a month. You can apply through the official Family PACT portal or get enrollment help from a participating provider.

If you are 17 or younger, your application counts a household of one and only your own income. Your parents’ income is excluded, including when they claim you as a tax dependent. For adults, tax dependency can change who belongs in the family unit.

Family PACT covers a limited set of family planning services. If you need general medical coverage, pregnancy care, or help with a hospital bill, also check Medi-Cal eligibility or the hospital’s financial assistance application.

Check all four eligibility conditions

Family PACT stands for Family Planning, Access, Care, and Treatment. Being under the income limit is one requirement, not an approval by itself.

• California residency: you must live in California when you apply. Know the county where you live.
• Family planning need: the program serves people who can become pregnant or cause a pregnancy and need family planning services.
• Income: your counted taxable family income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. These guidelines are an income measure based on family size.
• Other coverage: you must lack usable coverage for family planning or meet an exception described below.

The application does not require you to enter a Social Security number to receive services. Explain your circumstances accurately; a provider can help with the eligibility questions.

2026 income limits and who counts in your family

These are the program’s published 2026 income figures, effective April 1, 2026. The monthly limits are rounded by the state; they are not simply the annual amounts divided by twelve.

For an adult, the basic family unit generally includes you, a spouse, and minor children living in your home. If a spouse or parent claims you as a tax dependent, the tax filer and the filer’s other dependents may also belong in that unit. Tell the provider about the tax relationship before using a table row.

For someone 17 or younger, use the one-person row and the minor’s own income. The adult tax-dependent rule does not apply to minors.

The portal asks for taxable monthly income. Report the requested income sources and total accurately, including zero taxable income when that is your situation. If earnings recently changed, explain the current amount and timing rather than relying on an old annual salary.

Having insurance does not always rule you out

You may qualify with other health coverage if it provides no contraceptive coverage, you cannot meet an annual deductible on the service date, you have an unmet Medi-Cal share of cost, or you cannot use the coverage because of concerns that a parent, spouse, or partner will learn about your visit. You still must meet the other Family PACT conditions.

A deductible is an amount you must pay for covered care before a plan pays under its rules. A copayment is a fixed charge for a covered service. Being unable to afford a copayment alone is not the deductible exception. A Medi-Cal share of cost is a monthly amount some members must incur in medical expenses before Medi-Cal pays.

Wanting a particular brand or method that your insurance does not offer is not itself an eligibility exception. Explain what prevents you from using the coverage so the provider can assess the right rule. Do not cancel insurance just to try to qualify.

If confidentiality is the issue, say so before the clinic bills another plan. Family PACT enrollment and care are confidential, and you do not need a parent’s or partner’s consent to use the program. Ask the provider to confirm a safe mailing address, phone number, and contact method for records and messages.

Confirm that the service you need is covered

Covered services include contraception, emergency contraception, sterilization, family planning counseling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, HIV testing, cervical cancer screening, and limited fertility services. The covered visit or test must fit the program’s benefit rules. HIV testing does not mean ongoing HIV treatment is included.

Family PACT does not cover emergency room visits, inpatient care, pregnancy care, or general medical needs unrelated to family planning. If you become pregnant, ask the provider about Medi-Cal or temporary pregnancy coverage while a full application is considered.

Before booking, ask the clinic whether it participates in Family PACT, offers the specific service, accepts new patients, and can enroll you if needed. A provider search result does not reserve an appointment. Use the Family PACT provider locator to find nearby options.

Apply online or with a participating provider

The official application portal starts with eligibility questions and account creation. The application asks about personal and contact information, existing health coverage, family size, and taxable income. Review the entries, complete the signature step, and submit. Saving a draft or creating an account is not the same as submitting the application.

If you prefer help, contact a Family PACT provider and ask how it handles enrollment before your appointment. You can explain your income and family circumstances; the program accepts a client’s income self-declaration rather than requiring additional income verification. Ask what information the clinic needs for the visit and its enrollment process.

Keep the submission confirmation and check the portal for the result or next instruction. If the portal fails or you cannot finish, ask a participating provider to help. Do not assume an unfinished application covers a visit.

After approval, use your HAP identification number

Eligible clients receive a Health Access Programs, or HAP, identification number on a card. This identifies your Family PACT coverage. Ask the provider or portal instructions how to obtain the card or number, and confirm that it is active and what the start and end dates are.

You can use Family PACT with any participating Family PACT provider in California; you are not tied to the clinic that enrolled you. Covered prescriptions can be filled at pharmacies that accept Medi-Cal. Bring the HAP information and ask the clinic or pharmacy to verify coverage for the date and service. The program does not pay for care outside California.

Coverage generally lasts up to one year, unless an eligibility change ends it sooner. Providers reaffirm your eligibility at each visit. Report income, family size, or coverage changes, and arrange annual renewal before the end date. Renewal can begin after ten months of coverage; a provider can help you avoid a gap.

If you paid for a covered service in the three calendar months before your enrollment month, ask the provider to assess retroactive eligibility—whether you qualified for that earlier month. It uses a separate certification and claim process. Approval now does not automatically reimburse an old bill; keep receipts and follow the claim instructions and filing deadline.

If you are found ineligible, ask for the reason and a copy of the eligibility determination with fair hearing instructions. Correct a wrong age, household count, income amount, or coverage entry promptly. Follow the hearing instructions if you disagree with the decision; asking the clinic a question alone does not file a hearing request. For broader coverage after losing a job, compare Medicaid with COBRA and Marketplace options.