Medicare Help in Irvine

This page covers the city of Irvine. For the statewide rules, start with Medicare help in California.

In Irvine, you apply for Medi-Cal, CalFresh and the Medicare Savings Programs through the County of Orange Social Services Agency. The city runs three senior centers, senior vans, meal delivery and a help desk called the Keen Center. They serve Woodbridge, Northwood, University Park, Turtle Rock, Westpark, Portola Springs, the Great Park and every other village. If you moved here to be near family and don't know who to call yet, start with the table below.

Local offices in Irvine

Not sure you qualify? Apply anyway, because the county decides, and one Medi-Cal form also checks you for the Medicare Savings Programs. 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 or CalFresh in Irvine?

You can apply for Medi-Cal or CalFresh online at BenefitsCal.com or by phone at 1-800-281-9799. The county has no office in Irvine. The closest are in Santa Ana, at 1928 South Grand Avenue, and in Laguna Hills, at 23330 Moulton Parkway. Both are open on weekdays from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., 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 county's IHSS office at (714) 825-3000. Read more about IHSS in California.

Where can I get free Medicare counseling in Irvine?

You can get free Medicare counseling at the Council on Aging's HICAP office in Irvine, at 2 Executive Circle, Suite 175. Counselors see people in person on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and some speak Spanish, Vietnamese or Chinese. Call (714) 560-0424 for a time. HICAP counselors also visit Lakeview Senior Center on Wednesday mornings and the Trabuco Center on Tuesday mornings. Book those at (949) 724-6926, the council says.

Each fall, during Open Enrollment from October 15 to December 7, HICAP also holds longer clinics at Lakeview Senior Center, so ask for the dates. HICAP doesn't sell insurance, and Pair Team doesn't sell plans either. A change you make starts January 1, Medicare.gov says.

How do older adults get rides in Irvine?

Older adults can get rides from the city's two senior van services, which share one $20 yearly membership:

• TRIPS takes residents 60 and older to medical visits, errands and some places outside Irvine. You book ahead, and the vans fit wheelchairs.
• WeRide gives same-day rides around town, with volunteer drivers in city cars.

Both run on weekdays from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., with a suggested $5 donation a ride, the city says. No one is turned away for not giving. Call (949) 724-7433, or pick up a form at any senior center.

The free Irvine CONNECT shuttle runs between north Irvine and Irvine Station about every 20 minutes, seven days a week. If a disability keeps you from riding the bus, OC ACCESS gives van rides for $3.60 each way in 2026, OCTA says. Medi-Cal plans also give rides to medical visits. See Medi-Cal rides in California.

Where can seniors get meals and free food in Irvine?

For meals at home, call Irvine Meals on Wheels at (949) 724-6910. It's for residents 60 and older who can't easily shop or cook. Each weekday delivery has three meals, and you give what you can, the city says.

For lunch out, the Rose Garden Cafe at Lakeview Senior Center serves weekday lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The suggested donation is $4 if you're 60 or older. Reserve by 10 a.m. two business days ahead at (949) 724-6916.

For groceries, the city gives out a free box of about 30 pounds of food each month. It's a drive-through at the Great Park, Parking Lot 2, on the second Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon. Call (949) 724-6650 to ask if you qualify. Families Forward at 8 Thomas also runs a free market Monday through Thursday, if you register first. Monthly food money comes from CalFresh.

How do I lower my power, gas and water bills in Irvine?

To lower your power and gas bills, start with LIHEAP, which helps pay them. Apply at caliheapapply.com or call Community Action Partnership at (714) 839-6199. Then ask Southern California Edison and SoCalGas about CARE. It takes 30 to 35 percent off power and 20 percent off gas, the state says. See LIHEAP in California.

Your water comes from the Irvine Ranch Water District. If you can't pay on time, call (949) 453-5300 before the due date. It offers extensions, payment plans and a 40-day notice process before any shut-off, the district says.

What a Pair Team advocate does

Here, a call to us about Medicare often turns into a ride to the doctor or a Medi-Cal form. Your advocate makes the calls and follows up until there's an answer.

• Help you fill out the TRIPS and WeRide application.
• Book a HICAP visit for you at the Irvine office or a senior center.
• Help you sign up for Irvine Meals on Wheels or the monthly grocery box.
• Help you apply for Medi-Cal, CalFresh or IHSS by phone, so you don't have to drive to Santa Ana.

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 Tustin, Lake Forest or Costa Mesa. Is this my page?

If you live in Tustin, Lake Forest or Costa Mesa, the county offices on this page serve you too. The senior vans, Irvine Meals on Wheels and the grocery box are only for people who live in Irvine. For the county seat, see Medicare help in Santa Ana. For north Orange County, see Medicare help in Anaheim.

Can I get help in Chinese, Korean or Farsi in Irvine?

You can get help in Chinese, Korean or Farsi in Irvine at the Keen Center, by appointment. Its staff help in Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean and Farsi, the city says. For Medicare, HICAP's own lines are (714) 648-0858 for Chinese, (714) 619-4362 for Korean and (714) 923-5348 for Farsi.

Can I borrow a walker or wheelchair in Irvine?

You can borrow a walker, wheelchair or cane for free for 30 days through the Keen Center's loan program. Call (949) 724-6926 first. The same desk also sets up free elder law visits and medicine reviews, the city says.

Is the Section 8 waiting list open for Irvine?

The Section 8 waiting list for Irvine is closed right now. The city doesn't have its own housing authority, so the Orange County Housing Authority serves Irvine. If you're already on its list, call (714) 480-2740 with questions. See housing help in California.

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

To report abuse of an older adult in Irvine, call Adult Protective Services at 1-800-451-5155, day or night. For someone in a nursing home or care home, call the Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-800-300-6222.

Sources

• Office Locations by List, County of Orange Social Services Agency
• How Do I Apply for Medi-Cal?, County of Orange Social Services Agency
• In-Home Supportive Services, County of Orange Social Services Agency
• Senior Centers and Locations, City of Irvine
• Resources and Services for Older Adults, City of Irvine
• TRIPS, City of Irvine
• WeRide, City of Irvine
• Irvine CONNECT, City of Irvine
• Irvine Meals on Wheels, City of Irvine
• Lunch Service at Lakeview Senior Center, City of Irvine
• One-on-One Consultations, City of Irvine
• Resource Linkage at the Keen Center, City of Irvine
• Food Pantries, City of Irvine
• HICAP Counseling Locations, Council on Aging Southern California
• HICAP Medicare Enrollment Assistance, Council on Aging Southern California
• Medicare Counseling (HICAP), California Department of Aging
• Applicants, Orange County Housing Authority
• OC Housing Authority Opens Housing Choice Voucher Program Waiting List, County of Orange
• Contact Us, Orange County Housing Authority
• Billing FAQ, Irvine Ranch Water District
• OC ACCESS Service, Orange County Transportation Authority
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, California Department of Community Services and Development
• CARE/FERA Program, California Public Utilities Commission
• 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles, CMS