Medicare Help in Fremont

This page covers Fremont in Alameda County, not Fremont, Nebraska. For the statewide rules, start with Medicare help in California. Nearby, see Oakland, Hayward or San Jose.

In Fremont, the county Social Services Agency handles Medi-Cal, CalFresh, the Medicare Savings Programs and In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). The city's Human Services Department adds two Age Well Centers, care management, a Senior InfoLine and same-day rides. This page is for Centerville, Niles, Irvington, Mission San Jose, Warm Springs and Ardenwood. If you drive your father to every appointment and need a break, see Ride-On Tri-City below.

Local offices in Fremont

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.

Where do I apply for Medi-Cal or CalFresh in Fremont?

You can apply online at BenefitsCal.com, by phone at (510) 272-3663, or at the county's Fremont office. It shares 39155 Liberty Street with the city's Family Resource Center, and its lobby is open from 8:30 to 5 on weekdays. If you already get benefits, call (510) 263-2420.

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. With both, see Medicare and Medi-Cal together in California.

To apply for IHSS, call (510) 577-1800, and a staff member fills out the form with you. You need full Medi-Cal and a health form signed by your doctor. A social worker then visits your home. See IHSS in California.

What do Fremont's Age Well Centers offer?

Fremont's two Age Well Centers serve people 55 and older with classes, lunch and food pantries. Lake Elizabeth has served the area for over 45 years, and South Fremont opened in 2021. Both are open on weekdays from 8 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon. Membership costs $41 a year for Fremont residents and $51 for others.

For more help, the city's older adult specialists offer one-on-one care management for health needs, home safety and money worries. To ask, call the Senior InfoLine at 510-574-2041.

How do I get rides in Fremont?

For rides around town, start with the city's Ride-On Tri-City. It's for residents of Fremont, Newark and Union City who are 70 or older, or 18 to 69 and approved for paratransit. Rides cost $4 one way, and a companion rides free. They run from 8 in the morning to 6 at night, seven days a week, up to 30 trips a month.

You book a car through the Lyft app or by phone, or a wheelchair van if you need one. Apply online and allow a week to hear back, or call 510-574-2053.

For longer trips, East Bay Paratransit serves people whose disability keeps them off buses, for $4 up to 12 miles. With Medi-Cal, your plan also gives rides to medical visits.

Where can I get free food in Fremont?

The Tri-City Volunteers Food Bank at 37350 Joseph Street gives free groceries. You can walk up Monday to Thursday from 10 to 2, or Saturday from 10 to noon. Friday is drive-through only. Its mobile pantry also stops at both Age Well Centers for people 55 and older. Lake Elizabeth's is on the second and fourth Thursdays, and South Fremont's is on the first and third.

Salaam Food Pantry at 4080 Bay Street is open weekends from 11 to 1. The Family Resource Center hands out groceries on the first and third Wednesdays. If you can't leave home, call SOS Meals on Wheels at (510) 582-1263. Monthly food money comes from CalFresh.

Where can I get free Medicare counseling in Fremont?

For free Medicare counseling in Fremont, call HICAP at Legal Assistance for Seniors, (510) 839-0393. Counselors help you compare plans, find help with costs and file an appeal. HICAP doesn't sell insurance or plans, and Pair Team doesn't either.

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

If the Alameda County Water District sends your water bill, call 510-668-4200 about Help on Tap. It credits the full water service charge, $68.95 every two months. A home of one or two can make up to $67,900 a year, the district says. Proof that you get Medi-Cal, CalFresh or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) counts, and approval lasts three years. Forms come in Spanish, Chinese, Dari, Hindi, Farsi and three more languages.

For power, call PG&E at 1-866-743-5832 and ask about CARE. It takes 30 to 35 percent off your electric bill and 20 percent off gas, the state utility commission says. For help with a past-due bill, Spectrum runs LIHEAP at (510) 881-0300. See LIHEAP in California.

How do I get housing help in Fremont?

The Housing Authority of the County of Alameda runs Section 8 for Fremont, from its office in Hayward. Its waiting list has been closed since May 6, 2024. It will post openings at haca.net and on its phone line, (510) 538-8876, extension 1. Never pay anyone to apply, it warns. See housing help in California.

What a Pair Team advocate does

In Fremont, a call to us about Medicare often comes with a Medi-Cal renewal or a question about getting to the doctor. Your advocate makes the calls and follows up until there's an answer.

• Apply for Medi-Cal and IHSS with you, and get your doctor's health form in.
• Fill out the Ride-On Tri-City form with you and set up your rides.
• Help you apply for Help on Tap with the water district, and for CARE with PG&E.
• Set up a call with a HICAP counselor or the city's older adult specialists.

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 Fremont, Nebraska. Is this my page?

If you live in Fremont, Nebraska, this page isn't yours, because it covers Fremont, California. For free Medicare counseling in Nebraska, call 1-877-839-2675 or visit shiphelp.org. For aging services there, call 1-800-677-1116.

I live in Newark or Union City. Is this my page?

If you live in Newark or Union City, much of this page is yours. Ride-On Tri-City, the food bank, SOS Meals on Wheels, the county offices and the Housing Authority all serve both cities. You can join an Age Well Center at the $51 rate.

What if I get a shut-off notice from PG&E?

If you get a shut-off notice from PG&E, call the company the same day and ask for a payment plan. Then call Spectrum and say you have a notice. LIHEAP has crisis help for homes with a 24 to 48 hour shut-off notice, the state says.

Can I get one plan for Medicare and Medi-Cal in Fremont?

Yes, since January 2026 you can get one plan for both in Alameda County, called a Medi-Medi Plan, the state says. HICAP can help you compare it with what you have now.

Who do I call if an older adult is being abused?

Call Adult Protective Services at (510) 577-3500 or 1-866-225-5277, which the county lists as open 24 hours. If someone is in danger right now, call 911.

Sources

• Fremont Office, Alameda County Social Services Agency
• Hotlines, Alameda County Social Services Agency
• Medi-Cal: How to Apply, Alameda County Social Services Agency
• Receive IHSS, Alameda County Social Services Agency
• Aging and Family Services, City of Fremont
• Age Well Centers, City of Fremont
• Care Coordination, City of Fremont
• Transportation Services, City of Fremont
• Food Assistance, Fremont Family Resource Center, City of Fremont
• Contact, Tri-City Volunteers Food Bank and Mobile Pantry
• SOS Meals on Wheels
• Eligibility, East Bay Paratransit
• Fares and Map, East Bay Paratransit
• Alameda: Services in My County, California Department of Aging
• Help on Tap Program, Alameda County Water District
• LIHEAP, Spectrum Community Services
• CARE/FERA Program, California Public Utilities Commission
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, California Department of Community Services and Development
• Applying for Housing, Housing Authority of the County of Alameda
• Jurisdiction, Housing Authority of the County of Alameda
• Medi-Medi Plans, DHCS
• Medicare Savings Programs in California, DHCS
• 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles, CMS
• Eldercare Locator, Administration for Community Living
• Find your SHIP, SHIP Technical Assistance Center