Family PACT is California’s free family planning program. It pays for birth control, exams, and testing for low-income California residents who don’t have other coverage for these services. The reason many people miss out isn’t that they earn too much, it’s that they assume a free state program must have a long application or an asset check. Family PACT has neither. There is no resource test, and you don’t bring pay stubs to prove your income. This is who qualifies in 2026, what it covers, and where to sign up.
The short version
Family PACT covers family planning services at no cost for California residents whose income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. For 2026 that’s about $31,920 a year for one person and $66,000 for a household of four. There is no asset or resource test.
You don’t apply to a state office. You enroll at an enrolled Family PACT clinic or provider at your first visit, and your eligibility is based on what you tell them. No documents required to start.
Worth knowing: if you’re a minor, your parents’ income does not count toward the limit.
Do you qualify? A 30-second check
Family PACT eligibility comes down to four things. Check these against the 2026 rules below:
- Is your income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level for your household size? (the table below)
- Are you a California resident? You must live in California at the time you enroll.
- Do you need family planning services and lack other coverage for them? Family PACT fills the gap when you have no insurance, or your plan doesn’t cover contraception, or using your own plan would breach your confidentiality.
- Are you of reproductive age? The program serves people who can become pregnant or cause pregnancy. There is no minimum age, and a minor can enroll on their own.
There is no immigration status requirement and no asset test. Income is the main gate, and you report it yourself.
What Family PACT is
Family PACT stands for Family Planning, Access, Care and Treatment. It’s a state program run by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) through its Office of Family Planning. It pays enrolled clinics and providers directly for family planning services, so the visit costs you nothing if you qualify. It is not insurance and not a card you carry, it’s an enrollment tied to the provider you see. People often use it alongside or instead of regular coverage when they need these specific services kept private or free.
2026 income limits (by household size)
Family PACT uses 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, and these income figures are effective for visits on or after April 1, 2026. Income is counted for your basic family unit. If you’re a minor, your parents’ income is excluded unless they claim you as a tax dependent.
| Household / family size | 200% FPL annual income | Approx. monthly |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $31,920 | $2,660 |
| 2 | $43,280 | $3,607 |
| 3 | $54,640 | $4,553 |
| 4 | $66,000 | $5,500 |
| Each additional | +$11,360 | +$947 |
These come from the 2026 federal poverty guidelines, doubled to 200%. The annual figures are the firm cutoff. Confirm the current monthly amounts your clinic uses on the official DHCS chart before you rely on them, since clinics work from the state’s own table.
What Family PACT covers
The program is built around family planning, and within that it’s broad. Covered services include:
- Birth control — all methods, including long-acting reversible options (IUDs and implants), emergency contraception, and sterilization.
- Counseling and education about family planning and your options.
- Exams and screening — routine periodic exams, pap smears, and cervical cancer screening.
- STI and HIV testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections found during a family planning visit.
- Limited fertility services.
What it does not cover: pregnancy care and prenatal services, abortion, breast health treatment, emergency room or hospital stays, and general medical care outside family planning. Pregnant residents who need coverage are usually steered to Medi-Cal instead.
How to enroll
You don’t fill out a state application in advance. You enroll at the visit, through a provider that participates in the program:
- Find an enrolled Family PACT provider. Use the official provider locator at familypact.org, or the DHCS enrollment portal at apply.fpact.dhcs.ca.gov. Many community clinics, Planned Parenthood health centers, and county health departments take it.
- Go to your appointment. You enroll there. At the visit you confirm you’re a California resident, that your income is within the limit, and that you need these services. This is by self-report, so you don’t have to bring pay stubs or bank statements.
- Get your services the same day. Once you’re enrolled, your covered visit and any covered method or testing are free. Enrollment is generally good for a year, then you renew.
If you’re a minor, you can enroll and be seen on your own, and the program is designed to keep your visit confidential.
Family PACT can connect to other coverage
Family PACT often sits next to other low-income programs, but qualifying for one does not enroll you in the others. Each has its own application and its own rules. If you’re within the Family PACT income range, it’s worth checking whether you also qualify for:
- Medi-Cal — California’s Medicaid program. It covers full health care, including pregnancy and the services Family PACT excludes. If you become pregnant, Medi-Cal, not Family PACT, is the program to apply to. You apply separately through your county or Covered California.
- CalFresh — monthly food benefits for low-income households. Separate application at BenefitsCal.com.
- California LifeLine — a discount on your phone or home internet for income-qualified residents. You apply through your phone or internet provider.
See how these stack in our California benefits stacking guide.
Quick answers
Does Family PACT check my assets or savings?
No. There is no asset or resource test. Eligibility is based on income and California residency only.
Do I have to prove my income?
No documents are required at the visit. Your income is self-reported when you enroll.
I’m under 18. Will my parents’ income disqualify me?
No. For minors, your parents’ income is excluded from the limit, unless they claim you as a tax dependent. A minor can enroll independently.
Does my immigration status matter?
Family PACT does not have an immigration status requirement. Residency in California is what’s checked.
What if I’m already pregnant?
Family PACT does not cover pregnancy care. Apply for Medi-Cal, which covers prenatal and delivery services for income-eligible residents.
Bottom line
Family PACT gives free family planning care, birth control, exams, and STI testing, to California residents earning up to 200% of the poverty level, which is about $31,920 a year for one person and $66,000 for a family of four in 2026. There’s no asset test and no paperwork to prove income, and minors aren’t blocked by their parents’ earnings.
Check your income against the table, then find an enrolled provider at familypact.org and enroll at your visit. If you’re pregnant or need broader care, apply for Medi-Cal instead, since Family PACT is built for family planning, not full coverage.