u/Classic-Tap153

Hi all wondering if anyone has experience or advice to share regarding my current health insurance situation.

For context, I'm planning to quit my job and take ~1 year career break / sabbatical. Trying to figure out health insurance while I'm doing this and it's been a bit overwhelming! I'm a healthy 28M and I don't have any pre-existing conditions or need much medical care outside of the annual physical, but I want to make sure I'm covered for catastrophic events or a sudden very expensive illness. Because of that, I'm okay with a high deductible if it means a lower premium.

I'll be moving back to CA and staying with my parents and doing some international trips during the time off. Not planning to get international travel insurance since I'll mostly be traveling to places with affordable healthcare (EU, UK, Mexico, etc.), but I do want to be covered while I'm in the states.

My main question for Medi-Cal is: I know it's income based and from research I've been doing I see it's based on Monthly income. So I'm wondering if when I quit my job in August, maybe I can do COBRA for a month (super expensive 😞) but then once my income is zero for September, could I apply and be able to get on Medi-Cal? What confused me is on the Medi-cal website they ask for your annual income. My annual income Jan - Aug would def put me over the limit, but yeah curious if anyone has experience with a situation like mine? Or perhaps I could get on it in 2027? Once my yearly income is actually $0?

I looked at Covered CA, and the cheapest minimum coverage HDHP is the Kaiser HMO which is still $315/month and with a $10k deductible... If I have to do that I'll do that, but yeah figured it was worth a shot to see if I can get on Medi-Cal instead which would be way more affordable.

Any advice is greatly appreciated - thanks so much for reading!