Medicare Help in El Dorado County

This page covers El Dorado County. For the statewide rules, start with Medicare help in California. Next door, see Medicare help in Placer County or Medicare help in Sacramento.

In El Dorado County, the Health and Human Services Agency handles Medi-Cal, CalFresh, In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and energy bill help. Its Area Agency on Aging runs senior lunches, legal help and the helpline from the Placerville Senior Center at 937 Spring Street. This page is for Placerville, El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park, Shingle Springs, Diamond Springs, Pollock Pines, Georgetown and South Lake Tahoe. If the specialist is a long drive down Highway 50, start with the rides section.

Local offices in El Dorado County

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

How do I apply for Medi-Cal in El Dorado County?

You can apply for Medi-Cal online at BenefitsCal.com, by phone, by mail or at the Placerville or South Lake Tahoe office. Both are open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the county says.

Once you're approved, Medi-Cal mails you a Choice Packet. You have 30 days to pick a health plan, or Medi-Cal picks one for you, the state says. Call Health Care Options at 1-800-430-4263 for help choosing.

The same Medi-Cal form checks you for the Medicare Savings Programs. They can pay the $202.90 a month Medicare costs you in 2026, usually taken out of your Social Security check. See Medicare and Medi-Cal together in California.

How do I get paid help at home in El Dorado County?

To get paid help at home through IHSS, call (530) 642-4800 on a weekday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. You need to be on Medi-Cal and be 65 or older, blind or disabled. A social worker then visits and sets your hours.

A family member can be your paid helper. Since January 1, 2026, the county pays IHSS helpers $17.40 an hour, the state's wage chart says. To sign up as a helper, call the IHSS Public Authority at (530) 621-6287. See IHSS in California.

Where can I get free Medicare counseling in El Dorado County?

For free Medicare counseling in El Dorado County, call HICAP at (530) 621-6169. Counselors meet people at the Placerville, El Dorado Hills and South Lake Tahoe senior centers. Bring your Medicare card and your medicine list. Open Enrollment runs each fall, October 15 to December 7. HICAP doesn't sell plans, and Pair Team doesn't either.

For a legal question about Medicare or Medi-Cal, call Senior Legal Services at (530) 621-6154. It helps people 60 and older at any income, the county says.

How do I get a ride in El Dorado County?

To get a ride in El Dorado County, pick what fits you.

• Local buses cost 75 cents a ride at 60 and older. At 80 and older, a Lifetime pass rides local routes free. Call (530) 642-5383 to get one.
• Dial-A-Ride picks you up at the curb for $3 each way. It's for people 60 and older, or with a disability, who sign up first. Book up to three business days ahead at (530) 642-3696.
• Sac-Med takes you to medical visits in the Sacramento area on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Your visit must be between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. It costs $10 each way, and a helper rides free. Book 4 to 14 business days ahead at (530) 642-3696.
• In South Lake Tahoe, call the Tahoe Transportation District at 530-541-7149 for bus times.
• Medi-Cal rides come from your health plan. Call the number on your plan card. See Medi-Cal rides in California.

Where can I get meals and food in El Dorado County?

For lunch with people your age, the county serves a hot meal at seven sites on weekdays from noon to 12:30 p.m. It's for people 60 and older, and the suggested price is $5. Book Monday to Wednesday for the following week at (530) 621-6160.

If a health problem keeps you home, ask the same line about a hot meal at home on weekdays. The suggested price is $3, and staff check if you qualify.

For groceries, the Food Bank of El Dorado County supplies more than 30 local partner groups. Call 530-621-9950 to find one near you. Feeding the Foothills also holds free drive-thru giveaways in Cameron Park, Placerville, Pollock Pines and Georgetown. For food money, apply for CalFresh.

How do I get help with energy bills in El Dorado County?

To get help with energy bills, call the county's own Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) at (530) 621-6150. In October 2026, it was taking 2026 applications. One person can make up to $3,331.67 a month before taxes. People 60 and older get priority, and the county answers within 60 days.

Apply at caliheapapply.com, by mail or at the Placerville drop box. If your power is off, say so right away.

On the west slope, ask Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) at 1-866-743-5832 about California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE). It takes 30 to 35 percent off power and 20 percent off gas, the state says. At Lake Tahoe, Liberty's CARE takes 20 percent off power, and since 2026 the monthly base charge is $10. Call Liberty at 1-800-782-2506. See energy bill help in California.

What a Pair Team advocate does

In El Dorado County, a Medicare call often turns into a ride to a Sacramento specialist.

• Apply for Medi-Cal with you, and help you pick a health plan within 30 days.
• Start IHSS at (530) 642-4800, and follow up until a social worker visits.
• Sign you up for Dial-A-Ride, then book Sac-Med for your Sacramento visits.
• Send in your HEAP form, and save you a lunch seat at the site nearest you.

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 El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park or South Lake Tahoe. Is this my page?

Yes, this page covers El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park, South Lake Tahoe and the rest of El Dorado County. South Lake Tahoe has its own Medi-Cal office at 3368 Sandy Way, and its senior center is at 3050 Lake Tahoe Boulevard. In El Dorado Hills, the Gilmore Senior Center welcomes people 50 and older.

Where can I buy a discounted bus pass?

You can buy a discounted bus pass at the Placerville Senior Center on Spring Street, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The El Dorado Transit office at 6565 Commerce Way in Diamond Springs sells them too.

How do I get on a housing waitlist in El Dorado County?

To get on a housing waitlist in El Dorado County, check back with the Housing Authority. In October 2026, its Section 8 list was closed, and it last opened in 2016. The office is now at 768 Pleasant Valley Road in Diamond Springs, (530) 621-6300. See housing help in California.

How do I report elder abuse in El Dorado County?

To report elder abuse in El Dorado County, call Adult Protective Services at (530) 642-4800, any time of day. If someone is in danger right now, call 911.

What if the county denies my Medi-Cal?

If the county denies your Medi-Cal, you can ask the state for a hearing at 1-800-743-8525. You have 90 days from the notice to ask.

Sources

• Medi-Cal, El Dorado County Human Services
• El Dorado County, Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Plan Directory, DHCS
• In Home Support Services (IHSS), El Dorado County
• County IHSS Wage Rates, California Department of Social Services
• Adult Protective Services, El Dorado County
• Senior Services, El Dorado County Area Agency on Aging
• Senior Nutrition Services, El Dorado County
• Senior Centers, El Dorado County
• Home Energy Assistance Program, El Dorado County
• Housing Choice Voucher Program, El Dorado County Housing Authority
• Contact Us and Counseling Sites, HICAP of Northern California
• Senior Center, City of South Lake Tahoe
• Senior Center, El Dorado Hills Community Services District
• Dial-A-Ride, El Dorado Transit
• Sac-Med, El Dorado Transit
• Fares and Passes, El Dorado Transit
• California Alternate Rates for Energy, Liberty
• CARE/FERA Program, California Public Utilities Commission
• Food Bank of El Dorado County
• Feed Our Future Program, Feeding the Foothills
• 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles, CMS