Medicare Help in Oakland

This page covers the City of Oakland. For the statewide rules, start with Medicare help in California. For family nearby, see Medicare help in Fremont, San Francisco or Contra Costa County.

In Oakland, the county Social Services Agency handles Medi-Cal, CalFresh and In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). The city's Aging and Adult Services runs senior centers, discount rides and care at home. The Oakland Housing Authority, Spectrum Community Services and the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) help with housing, energy and water. This page is for Downtown, Fruitvale, East Oakland, West Oakland, North Oakland and the hills. If a Medi-Cal letter and a past-due Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) bill came the same week, start with the table below.

Local offices in Oakland

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 Oakland?

You can apply online at BenefitsCal.com, by phone at (510) 272-3663, or at one of three county offices in Oakland. They're on Foothill Boulevard, Enterprise Way and San Pablo Avenue, and each 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. See IHSS in California.

Where are the senior centers in Oakland?

Three city senior centers are open, Monday to Thursday from 9 to 1. Membership costs $15 a year. Staff at each center help people 60 and older find housing, food and utility help.

In October 2026, the city lists the West Oakland center as closed for building work, with most classes moved to North Oakland. At the Downtown center, Spectrum serves a hot lunch if you ask three days ahead.

If you're 65 or older and on Medi-Cal, but may need a nursing home, ask the city's MSSP about care at home. A social worker and a nurse visit and make a plan with you. Call (510) 238-3762.

Where can I get free Medicare counseling in Oakland?

For free Medicare counseling in Oakland, 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 get rides in Oakland?

If you live in Oakland and you're 70 or older, OPED helps pay for rides, with no income test. If you're 18 to 69, you need to be an East Bay Paratransit rider first. Through GoGoGrandparent, staff book an Uber or Lyft by phone, with a discount on up to 8 rides a month. To sign up, call 1-855-464-6872 and ask for the City of Oakland Partnership. OPED also sells discount taxi scrip and van vouchers in Room 106 at the Downtown center.

East Bay Paratransit is a shared van for people whose disability keeps them off buses and trains. To set up an interview, call (510) 287-5000 and choose option 5. A ride costs $4 for up to 12 miles. With Medi-Cal, your plan also gives rides to medical visits.

Where can seniors get free food in Oakland?

For free food, call the Alameda County Community Food Bank helpline at (510) 635-3663, weekdays from 9 to 4. Staff find you groceries or a hot meal the same day, in many languages. The East Oakland Senior Center also runs a Wednesday food pantry. Members come first, from 8 to 9 in the morning, then anyone.

If you can't leave home, call SOS Meals on Wheels at (510) 582-1263. Monthly food money comes from CalFresh.

How do I lower my PG&E and water bills in Oakland?

To lower your PG&E bill, start with LIHEAP, which Spectrum runs for the city. Apply at CALIHEAPApply.com, or call (510) 881-0300 for a paper form. In 2026, a home of one can make up to $3,331.66 a month, Spectrum says. Homes with the most need come first.

Then ask PG&E about CARE at 1-866-743-5832. It takes 30 to 35 percent off your electric bill and 20 percent off gas, the state utility commission says.

For water, call EBMUD at (510) 287-0468 about its Customer Assistance Program. It takes half off the service charge and your water use, and 35 percent off sewer charges. In October 2026, EBMUD lists an income limit of $67,900 a year for one or two people. See LIHEAP in California.

How do I get housing help in Oakland?

The Oakland Housing Authority's lists for Section 8, public housing and its other vouchers are all closed, it says. If you already applied, it sends updates by email and won't give your status by phone. Its main office is at 1619 Harrison Street, at (510) 874-1500. See housing help in California.

What a Pair Team advocate does

In Oakland, a call to us about Medicare often comes with an IHSS question or a PG&E shut-off notice. Your advocate makes the calls and follows up until there's an answer.

• Apply for IHSS with you by phone, and get your doctor's health form in.
• Sign you up for OPED's discount rides, or help with the East Bay Paratransit form.
• Help you apply for LIHEAP through Spectrum, and for CARE and the EBMUD discount.
• Set up a HICAP call, or a referral to the city's MSSP.

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 Berkeley, Emeryville or Piedmont. Is this my page?

If you live in Berkeley, Emeryville or Piedmont, part of this page is yours. The county offices, HICAP, East Bay Paratransit and EBMUD serve you, but the senior centers and OPED are for Oakland residents. The city's MSSP also covers Emeryville, Piedmont and Berkeley ZIP codes 94704 and 94705.

I live in Fremont or Hayward. Is this my page?

If you live in Fremont or Hayward, the county programs here are yours, but the city ones aren't. See Medicare help in Fremont for its own office, centers and rides. In Hayward, the county office is at 24100 Amador Street.

How long does the county take to decide?

The county generally has 45 days to decide on Medi-Cal and 30 days for CalFresh. If you haven't heard back, call (510) 263-2420.

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 apply with 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 Oakland?

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.

Sources

• Office Locations, Alameda County Social Services Agency
• Eastmont Town Center, Alameda County Social Services Agency
• Enterprise Self-Sufficiency Center, Alameda County Social Services Agency
• Thomas L. Berkley Square, 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
• Senior Centers, City of Oakland
• Downtown Oakland Senior Center, City of Oakland
• East Oakland Senior Center, City of Oakland
• North Oakland Senior Center, City of Oakland
• West Oakland Senior Center, City of Oakland
• Get Information and Assistance for Services, City of Oakland
• Case Management Programs for Seniors, City of Oakland
• Transportation Services and Resources, City of Oakland
• Apply for Energy Assistance with City Partners, City of Oakland
• Alameda: Services in My County, California Department of Aging
• Eligibility, East Bay Paratransit
• Fares and Map, East Bay Paratransit
• Get Food, Alameda County Community Food Bank
• SOS Meals on Wheels
• LIHEAP, Spectrum Community Services
• CARE/FERA Program, California Public Utilities Commission
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, California Department of Community Services and Development
• Customer Assistance Program, East Bay Municipal Utility District
• Waitlists, Oakland Housing Authority
• Medi-Medi Plans, DHCS
• Medicare Savings Programs in California, DHCS
• 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles, CMS