Medicare Help in Los Angeles

This page covers the City of Los Angeles. For nearby cities, see Long Beach, Santa Clarita, Pomona, Lancaster or Palmdale. For the statewide rules, start with Medicare help in California.

In Los Angeles, the county's DPSS handles Medi-Cal, CalFresh and paid help at home, called In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). The city adds the Department of Aging, Cityride, LADWP and the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA). This page is for the San Fernando Valley, Hollywood, Koreatown, Boyle Heights, South LA, the Westside, San Pedro and Wilmington. If a DPSS renewal letter and a past-due power bill came the same week, start with the table below.

Local offices in Los Angeles

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 Los Angeles?

You can apply for Medi-Cal or CalFresh at BenefitsCal.com, at 1-866-613-3777, or at a DPSS office. These offices in the city are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, 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.

How do I find a senior center or meals in Los Angeles?

To find your senior center, call the Department of Aging at (213) 482-7252. Each Multipurpose Senior Center serves certain ZIP codes, and only people who live in the city, the 2026 city directory says. Centers serve meals on site and to go, and deliver to people who can't get out.

That number also reaches the city's Aging and Disability Resource Connection, for help going home from a hospital or nursing home.

The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has a free monthly food box for people 60 and older with low income. Monthly food money comes from CalFresh.

How do I apply for IHSS in Los Angeles?

To apply for IHSS in Los Angeles, call DPSS at 1-888-944-4477 and apply by phone. Then a social worker visits your home. For questions, call the IHSS Helpline at 1-888-822-9622, or read about IHSS in California.

Where can I get free Medicare counseling in Los Angeles?

For free Medicare counseling, call the Center for Health Care Rights, the county's HICAP, at (213) 383-4519 or 1-800-434-0222. Counselors help you compare plans, find help with costs and file appeals. HICAP doesn't sell insurance or plans, and Pair Team doesn't either.

Counselors also meet people at the Wilkinson center in Northridge and the Alicia Broadous Duncan center in Pacoima. In Reseda, call ONEgeneration at (818) 705-2345.

How do I get rides in Los Angeles?

Cityride is the city's ride program for people 65 and older or with a disability. To sign up, call (213) 808-7433. A van trip of up to 10 miles uses $4 of your ride value. A city taxi can use $4 to $20 of it, and you pay the rest. Vans run on weekdays, and you book a day ahead.

The city's DASH buses are free with a Cityride card. Without one, the senior and disability fare is 25 cents.

If a disability keeps you off the bus, call Access Services at 1-800-827-0829. A one-way trip costs up to $3.50, and age alone doesn't qualify you. With Medi-Cal, your plan also gives rides to medical visits.

How do I lower my LADWP bill?

To lower your LADWP bill, call 1-800-342-5397 and ask about EZ-SAVE. You don't need proof of income to sign up, LADWP says. If you're 62 or older or have a disability, ask about the Lifeline Rate, which LADWP says gives its biggest discount. The City Office of Finance runs it at (844) 663-4411.

For gas, call SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200 and ask about CARE, which takes 20 percent off. Medi-Cal, CalFresh or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can qualify you, the state utility commission says.

For help paying a bill, apply for LIHEAP. Your ZIP code decides which agency takes your application, and all three are short on money in 2026. PACE only takes people with a shut-off notice or service already off, the state says. Maravilla takes mailed forms only and can take 10 to 12 weeks. See LIHEAP in California.

How do I get senior housing in Los Angeles?

To get on the list for public housing, apply online with HACLA or call (833) 422-5248 for a paper form. HACLA keeps one list for all its sites, so you can't pick a building. People 62 and older and people with a disability get a preference. When your turn comes, you get up to three offers and five business days to answer each.

The Section 8 voucher list is closed, HACLA says. For other housing help, see housing help in California.

What a Pair Team advocate does

In Los Angeles, a Medicare call often turns into a DPSS renewal, a Cityride form or a past-due LADWP bill. Your advocate makes the calls and follows up until there's an answer.

• Help you sign up for Cityride and order your ride value each quarter.
• Help you apply for EZ-SAVE or the Lifeline Rate, and for LIHEAP if you have a shut-off notice.
• Help you apply for IHSS by phone and get ready for the social worker's visit.
• Help you apply to HACLA's public housing list and keep your application up to date.

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 Glendale, Burbank or Santa Monica. Is this my page?

If you live in Glendale, Burbank or Santa Monica, only part of this page is yours, because each is its own city. DPSS, IHSS, Access Services and HICAP still serve you, but Cityride, LADWP and the city senior centers don't. Glendale has its own page: Medicare help in Glendale. If you're not sure which side of the line you're on, call 1-800-510-2020, which sends each call to the right aging office.

How long does DPSS take to decide?

DPSS generally has 45 days to decide on Medi-Cal and the Medicare Savings Programs. For CalFresh, counties decide within 30 days. If you haven't heard back, call 1-866-613-3777.

What if I get a shut-off notice from LADWP?

If you get a shut-off notice from LADWP, call LADWP the same day and ask for a payment plan. Then apply for LIHEAP and say you have a notice, since those homes come first in 2026.

Can I use Cityride to get to the doctor?

Yes, you can use Cityride to get to the doctor, since vans take you anywhere within 10 miles. For a medical visit, call two business days ahead, between 2 and 5 p.m., Cityride says.

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

Yes, you can get one plan for both in Los Angeles County, called a Medi-Medi Plan, the state says. You can also keep Original Medicare with Medi-Cal. Read about Medicare and Medi-Cal together in California.

Sources

• Office Locations, Los Angeles County DPSS
• Contact Us, Los Angeles County DPSS
• DPSS office pages, Los Angeles County Services Locator
• Medicare Savings Programs, Los Angeles County DPSS
• Contact Us, Los Angeles Department of Aging
• Multipurpose Senior Centers, Los Angeles Department of Aging
• Program and Service Provider Directory, April 2026, Los Angeles Department of Aging
• Aging and Disability Resource Connection, Los Angeles Department of Aging
• Transportation Services, Los Angeles Department of Aging
• Los Angeles City: Services in My County, California Department of Aging
• How to Get Free Medicare Help, Center for Health Care Rights
• Cityride, Los Angeles Department of Transportation
• Overview, Access Services
• EZ-SAVE Program, LADWP
• Senior Citizen/Disability Lifeline Rate, LADWP
• CARE/FERA Program, California Public Utilities Commission
• Services in Los Angeles County, California Department of Community Services and Development
• Utility Assistance, Maravilla Foundation
• Public Housing Applicants, HACLA
• About Section 8, HACLA
• Contact Us, HACLA
• MyLA311, City of Los Angeles
• Do You Qualify for CSFP?, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
• Medi-Medi Plans, DHCS