Medicare Help in Corona, California

This page covers the city of Corona in Riverside County, not Corona in Queens, New York. For the statewide rules, start with Medicare help in California.

In Corona, you apply for Medi-Cal, CalFresh and the Medicare Savings Programs through Riverside County's DPSS. The city runs its own senior center, Dial-A-Ride vans, Corona Cruiser buses, water service and, in some newer areas, power. This page serves downtown, South Corona, Sierra del Oro and Dos Lagos. If a caller just said your water will be cut off in 20 minutes, read the scam warning below first.

Local offices in Corona

Not sure you qualify? Apply anyway, because the county decides, and some of your income may not count. If you'd rather not do it alone, a Pair Team advocate can help you in one call.

How do I apply for Medi-Cal, CalFresh or IHSS in Corona?

You can apply for Medi-Cal or CalFresh at BenefitsCal.com or by phone at 1-877-410-8827. DPSS has no office in Corona, so the closest is in Norco, at 517 West Parkridge Avenue. It's open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but call first to set a visit, the county says. The same Medi-Cal form checks you for the Medicare Savings Programs. They can pay your copays and the $202.90 a month Medicare costs you in 2026, usually taken from your Social Security check. See Medicare and Medi-Cal together in California.

For paid help at home, call the IHSS line at 1-888-960-4477, and a social worker visits your home. Read more about IHSS in California.

Where can I get free Medicare counseling in Corona?

You can get free Medicare counseling from the Council on Aging Southern California, which runs HICAP for Riverside County. During Open Enrollment, its counselors hold clinic days at the Corona Senior Center, about every other Wednesday. Call (909) 256-8369 to book, the council says.

Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7 each year, and a change you make starts January 1. HICAP doesn't sell insurance, and Pair Team doesn't sell plans either.

What does the Corona Senior Center offer?

The Corona Senior Center offers classes, lunch, lectures and a fitness room to people 50 and older. Membership is free; you bring a form and a photo ID, the city says.

• Lunch: People 60 and older can eat at noon on weekdays, first come, first served. The suggested donation is $3, and you fill out a form once a year.
• Lectures: Free talks by doctors, lawyers and others are usually on Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m.

The center doesn't lend walkers, the city says, but Medicare can help pay for one, as walkers and wheelchairs explains. For the calendar, call (951) 736-2363.

How do I get a ride in Corona?

In Corona, the city runs Dial-A-Ride, a shared van that picks you up at the curb. It's for people 60 and older and people with disabilities. Call (951) 736-2266 for the form to get a rider card. Then book at (951) 734-7220, 1 to 14 days ahead. Vans run every day but Sunday.

Rides cost $3.50, but the city lists them as free through June 30, 2027, so ask when you book. On Corona Cruiser buses, people 60 and older and Medicare card holders pay half fare, 75 cents, when fares apply. For trips outside the city, Riverside Transit Agency rides need a disability approval, at (951) 565-5000. Medi-Cal plans also give rides to medical visits. See Medi-Cal rides in California.

How do I lower my water and power bills in Corona?

If your water bill is past due, call Corona Utilities at (951) 736-2321 and ask for a payment plan, the city says. It's open Monday to Thursday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Most homes get power from Southern California Edison. Some newer homes get it from the city, which has sold power since 2001. If Edison bills you, ask it and SoCalGas about CARE. It takes 30 to 35 percent off power and 20 percent off gas, the state says.

For a large bill, call Community Action Partnership at (951) 955-4900 for a LIHEAP screening. If your power is already off, it takes walk-ins from 2 to 4 p.m. in Jurupa Valley. See LIHEAP in California.

Where can seniors get free food in Corona?

For free groceries, go to the Corona-Norco Settlement House at 507 South Vicentia Avenue. Its pantry is open weekdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m. for people with low income who live in the Corona-Norco school district. You can get food once every 30 days, it says.

Feeding America's Senior Mobile Pantry comes to River Run Senior Apartments each third Tuesday, from 9 to 11 a.m. If you can't get out, Riverside Meals on Wheels delivers on weekdays in Corona. It can start as soon as two days after you apply; call (951) 683-7151. Monthly food money comes from CalFresh.

What a Pair Team advocate does

In Corona, calls to us often start with a Dial-A-Ride form or a past-due water bill. Your advocate makes the calls and follows up until there's an answer.

• Help you get a Dial-A-Ride card and book your first ride.
• Call Corona Utilities with you about a payment plan, and apply for CARE.
• Book a HICAP clinic time at the Corona Senior Center.
• Help with a DPSS renewal or an IHSS application by phone, so you don't have to drive to Norco.

An advocate is covered by Medicare if you qualify. It takes two minutes to find out.

Check if you qualify for a Pair Team advocate

Frequently asked questions

I live in Norco, Eastvale or Home Gardens. Is this my page?

If you live in Norco, Eastvale or Home Gardens, the county offices on this page serve you too. Riverside Meals on Wheels also delivers to Norco and Eastvale. The senior center and city utility are for Corona. For the county's largest city, see Medicare help in Riverside. Over the hills in Orange County, see Medicare help in Anaheim.

I live in Corona, Queens. Is this my page?

If you live in Corona, Queens, this page isn't yours, because it covers Corona, California. Your help comes from New York City. Start with Medicare help in Queens or Medicare help in New York.

What if someone calls saying my water will be shut off?

If someone calls saying your water will be shut off in minutes, hang up. Corona Utilities sends letters and door tags before any shut-off, and it doesn't take Zelle, the city says. Scammers can make the caller ID look like the city's, so call (951) 736-2321 yourself to check your account.

Is the Section 8 waiting list open for Corona?

The Section 8 waiting list for Corona is closed to new names since September 1, 2025. The Housing Authority of the County of Riverside serves Corona, and some set-aside buildings still take applications online. Call (951) 351-0700 for help, or see housing help in California.

How do I report abuse of an older adult in Corona?

To report abuse of an older adult in Corona, call Adult Protective Services at 1-800-491-7123. DPSS answers that line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Sources

• Office Locations for CalWORKs, CalFresh and Medi-Cal, Riverside County DPSS
• Adult Services, Riverside County DPSS
• Senior Center, City of Corona
• Corona Senior Center, City of Corona Parks and Facilities Directory
• Dial-A-Ride, City of Corona
• Corona Cruiser, City of Corona
• My Bill, City of Corona Utilities
• Electric Service, City of Corona Utilities
• Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, Council on Aging Southern California
• HICAP Medicare Enrollment, Riverside County, Council on Aging Southern California
• Medicare Counseling (HICAP), California Department of Aging
• Riverside County Office on Aging
• Meal Delivery, Riverside Meals on Wheels
• Programs, Corona-Norco Settlement House
• Senior Mobile Pantry, Feeding America Riverside San Bernardino
• Utility Assistance Program, Community Action Partnership of Riverside County
• How to Apply, Housing Authority of the County of Riverside
• CARE/FERA Program, California Public Utilities Commission
• 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles, CMS