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3 Daily Habits That Will Transform Your 2026
As we enter another new year, there’s no better time to adjust your daily habits to help you become the healthiest version of yourself mentally and physically. Here are three strategies you can incorporate into your New Year’s expectations and resolutions that will help ensure 2026 is your healthiest year yet! Start every day strong. Many Americans fall into the same routines year after year, and most are dangerous for their overall well-being. They stay up too late, wake up to an alarm a few hours later, scramble to get ready, and jump in the car as soon as possible to get to work. Your morning routine sets the tone for your day. If you’re in a hurry every morning, you will feel rushed and exhausted. Give yourself ample time in the morning to take care of yourself and some simple chores. Make your bed, have a glass of water, take good care of your hygiene, eat something, and incorporate some movement into your mornings. It will be hard initially, but you’ll feel the benefits within a few weeks. Diet and exercise matter. This is probably not news to you, but we can’t downplay the importance of diet and exercise. Listen to your body; it will tell you what it needs. Many
people fall into the trap of overeating without realizing it or starving themselves when they want to lose weight, but this won’t make them feel good. Eat when your body tells you to, stick to a healthy diet, and find time for exercise. You need to find ways to motivate yourself, especially when you want to stay in bed and stick to comfort foods. Your body will thank you. Drink more water. How much water do you drink each day? The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that men should drink about 15.5 cups of fluids daily and women should drink 11.5 cups. If you aren’t hitting these numbers, it’s time to adjust. Start and finish each day with
a glass of water. Walk around with a refillable bottle. Staying hydrated will help your body function much better.
Medi-Cal Rules Have Shifted Asset Limits, Enrollment Freezes, and New Care Options
Keeping Your Coverage • If you already have Medi-Cal, make sure your contact info is up to date and complete your renewal on time, or you risk losing coverage. • If you expect to rely on dental services, and you’re in the affected group, try to get needed care before the July 1, 2026, change. Planning Ahead With the return of asset limits, proactive planning is more important than ever. Shoup Legal offers a specialized trust designed to help individuals protect their assets while preserving Medi-Cal eligibility, providing a lawful way to plan ahead without jeopardizing essential benefits. Have questions? Our team is here to help. Contact us today!
On Jan. 1, 2026, Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, changed in several important ways. If you’re enrolled now or thinking about enrolling, here’s what you need to know. Asset Limits After years of eligibility being based solely on income, beginning in 2026, Medi-Cal will once again look at what you own (your “assets”), such as cash, savings, property, bank accounts, etc. For non-expansion beneficiaries (like older adults, people with disabilities, and those in long-term care), the new asset limit will be $130,000 for an individual. For couples or larger households, the limit increases accordingly. If your assets exceed the threshold, you could lose eligibility. Enrollment Freeze and Immigration Status Restrictions As of Jan. 1, 2026, adults 19 and older who are undocumented or otherwise have “unsatisfactory immigration status” can no longer enroll in full- scope Medi-Cal. If you’re already covered, you may
keep benefits, but only if you renew on time and meet Medi-Cal’s general eligibility rules. Children (0–18) and pregnant women remain eligible for full coverage regardless of immigration status. Dental Coverage and Premium Changes If you are an adult 19 or older with unsatisfactory immigration status and full-scope Medi-Cal coverage, beginning July 1, 2026, you will no longer receive routine dental coverage. You’ll only be entitled to emergency dental care (pain, extractions, infections). Furthermore, for that same group, a monthly premium requirement of $30/ month will begin on July 1, 2027.
Extended-Care Plans for Dual-Eligible Beneficiaries
On the brighter side, starting Jan. 1, 2026, the state is expanding access to integrated care plans, called Medi-Medi Plans, for people who qualify for both Medi-Cal and Medicare. That means more people with complex health needs or long-term care needs will get streamlined care under one plan.
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