Medicare Help in Modesto

This page covers the City of Modesto in Stanislaus County. For the statewide rules, start with Medicare help in California.

In Modesto, you apply for Medi-Cal, CalFresh and the Medicare Savings Programs through CSA, which also runs In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). The county's free Medicare counseling office is on Coffee Road. The city runs a senior center and a utility bill discount. This page is for Downtown, the College Area, La Loma, Village One and Dutch Hollow. If a parent needs a hot lunch and some company, start with the senior center on Bodem Street. For nearby cities, see Medicare help in Stockton and Medicare help in Sacramento.

Local offices in Modesto

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 or CalFresh in Modesto?

You can apply for Medi-Cal or CalFresh online at BenefitsCal.com, or by phone, mail, fax or in person. To start by phone, call the CSA Customer Service Center at 1-877-652-0734. The main office is at 251 East Hackett Road, open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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. See Medicare and Medi-Cal together in California.

How do I apply for IHSS in Modesto?

To apply for IHSS in Modesto, call (209) 558-2637 on weekdays, and a social worker then visits your home. If you don't have Medi-Cal yet, a county worker helps you apply. A licensed health care professional must also fill out a health form before IHSS can start. See IHSS in California.

Where is the senior center in Modesto?

The City of Modesto runs the Modesto Senior Citizens Center at 211 Bodem Street. It's open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for people 60 and older, with exercise classes and events. Membership is free once you sign a waiver, the city says.

The center's Bodem Bistro serves a hot lunch Monday to Thursday, from 11 a.m. to noon. Call (209) 341-2974 by noon the weekday before to save a seat. The city asks for $4 a meal if you can give it, and no one is turned away.

Where can I get free Medicare counseling in Modesto?

For free Medicare counseling in Modesto, call HICAP at (209) 558-4540. Its office is at 3500 Coffee Road, Suite 19, open on weekdays by appointment. Counselors help you compare plans and file appeals. HICAP doesn't sell insurance or plans, and Pair Team doesn't either.

How do I get rides with The S paratransit?

The S, run by the Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority, has paratransit vans for people whose disability keeps them from riding the bus. It runs every day, near its bus routes. Since July 1, 2026, a company called ADARide handles who qualifies. Call (209) 284-4577 to apply by phone or online.

A one-way ride costs $2.50, and veterans ride free. To book, call (209) 527-4900 by 5 p.m. the day before, or up to seven days ahead. The S runs Dial-A-Ride for everyone in Patterson, Oakdale and Riverbank, but not in Modesto. The Medivan takes patients from Modesto to some Bay Area medical centers on weekdays, for $10 each way.

If you have Medi-Cal, your plan also gives rides to medical visits. See Medi-Cal rides in California.

Where can seniors get free food in Modesto?

For a hot lunch, go to the Bodem Bistro at the senior center. For meals at home, call Aging and Veterans Services at (209) 558-8698.

Second Harvest of the Greater Valley runs Silver Harvest for people 60 and older. It gives 15 to 18 pounds of groceries twice a month. In October 2026, it's for people with less than $2,430 a month, or $3,288 for a couple. To find a sign-up site near you, call (209) 239-2091. Monthly food money comes from CalFresh.

How do I lower my utility bills in Modesto?

To lower your power bill, start with LIHEAP. CVOC runs it from Ceres at (209) 537-9217. Then ask for these discounts.

• MID CARES (Community Alternative Rates for Electric Service) cuts MID's monthly charge from $32 to $12.80. It also takes 23 percent off your first 850 kilowatt-hours each month. Call (209) 526-7435, or bring your papers to 1231 11th Street.
• City Utility Billing Assistance takes $45 off your city water, sewer and garbage bill each month. Medi-Cal, CalFresh, Supplemental Security Income or MID CARES can qualify you, if the bill is in your name at your home. Call (209) 577-5395 or go to 1010 10th Street, Suite 2100. You reapply every two years.
• PG&E CARE takes 20 percent off gas if PG&E sends your gas bill, the state utility commission says. Ask PG&E about it at 1-866-743-5832.

See LIHEAP in California.

What a Pair Team advocate does

In Modesto, calls about Medicare often come with an IHSS question or a past-due MID bill.

• Apply for IHSS with you by phone, and get the health form to the county.
• Apply for MID CARES, then use it to get the city's $45 utility discount.
• Help you apply to ADARide for paratransit, and set up Medivan trips.
• Book a HICAP visit on Coffee Road, or a lunch seat at the Bodem Bistro.

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 Turlock or Ceres. Is this my page?

If you live in Turlock or Ceres, the county offices here serve you too. The senior center and the $45 utility discount are for Modesto. CSA's South County Service Center is at 1310 West Main Street in Turlock. For a power discount, ask the Turlock Irrigation District (TID) about TID CARES at (209) 883-8222.

How do I get housing help in Modesto?

To get housing help in Modesto, call the Stanislaus Regional Housing Authority at (209) 557-2000, and press 4 for Section 8. Its office is at 1612 Sisk Road, open on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ask which waiting lists are open, and never pay anyone to apply. See housing help in California.

Is there help with housework if I don't get IHSS?

Yes, Catholic Charities' Homemaker Program gives 2 hours of light housework every 2 weeks to people 60 and older who live alone. There's no fee, but there's often a waitlist, the county says. Call (209) 529-3784 to ask.

What if I get a shut-off notice?

If you get a shut-off notice, call your power company the same day and ask for a payment plan. Then call CVOC at (209) 537-9217 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 Modesto?

Yes, since January 2026 you can get one plan for both in Stanislaus County, called a Medi-Medi Plan, the state says. HICAP can help you compare it with what you have now. Read Medicare and Medi-Cal together in California.

Sources

• Medi-Cal, Stanislaus County Community Services Agency
• General Info, Stanislaus County Community Services Agency
• Adult Services and IHSS, Stanislaus County Community Services Agency
• Aging and Veterans Services, Stanislaus County
• Medicare (HICAP): Ways We Can Help, Stanislaus County Aging and Veterans Services
• In-Home Services, Stanislaus County Aging and Veterans Services
• Senior Center Activities, City of Modesto
• Utility Billing Assistance Program, City of Modesto
• Utility Billing Assistance Program FAQs, City of Modesto
• ADA Paratransit, Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority
• Demand Response, Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority
• Fares, Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority
• Silver Harvest Program, Second Harvest of the Greater Valley
• Contact Us, Stanislaus Regional Housing Authority
• Utilities Assistance Programs, Stanislaus County
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, California Department of Community Services and Development
• MID CARES Program, Modesto Irrigation District
• CARES Income Eligible Program, Turlock Irrigation District
• CARE/FERA Program, California Public Utilities Commission
• Medi-Medi Plans, DHCS
• Medicare Savings Programs in California, DHCS
• 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles, CMS