Medicare Help in Sacramento

This page covers the City of Sacramento. For the statewide rules, start with Medicare help in California. Nearby, see Medicare help in Stockton, Placer County or El Dorado County.

In Sacramento, you apply for Medi-Cal, CalFresh and the Medicare Savings Programs through the county's DHA. The city adds a senior center, adult day care and a utility credit. SMUD sells power, and Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) may send the gas bill. This page is for Downtown, Midtown, Land Park, Oak Park, the Pocket, Natomas, Meadowview and Del Paso Heights. If a SMUD bill is past due and a Medi-Cal renewal came the same week, start with the table below.

Local offices in Sacramento

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 Sacramento?

Apply for Medi-Cal or CalFresh online at BenefitsCal.com, by phone at 1-800-560-0976, by mail, or at a DHA office. Mail forms to DHA at P.O. Box 487, Sacramento, CA 95812.

Three DHA offices have Sacramento addresses: 2450 Florin Road, 3960 Research Drive and 2700 Fulton Avenue. Each is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, the county says.

The same Medi-Cal application 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 Sacramento?

To apply for IHSS, call (916) 874-9471 on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A family member can make the referral. You need a Medi-Cal decision first, and a health form from your doctor. A social worker then sets your hours. A family helper signs up through the IHSS Public Authority at (916) 874-2888. See IHSS in California.

What does the City of Sacramento offer older adults?

The City of Sacramento runs the Hart Senior Center at 27th and J Streets, open on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It's for people 50 and older, and no membership is needed for classes. City community centers also hold walks and classes.

If a parent has memory loss, the city's Triple-R Adult Day Centers care for them during the day. The three licensed sites are the Hart Senior Center, 5962 South Land Park Drive and 700 Southgate Road. The minimum is two days a week, and most long-term care insurance pays, the city says. Call (916) 808-1448 to visit.

Where can I get free Medicare counseling in Sacramento?

For free Medicare counseling in Sacramento, call HICAP of Northern California at (916) 376-8915 to book a one-hour visit. Its main office is at 505 12th Street. Counselors also meet people at the Hart Senior Center, Stanford Settlement and the Valley Hi-North Laguna Library. Bring your Medicare card and a list of your prescriptions. HICAP doesn't sell insurance or plans, and Pair Team doesn't either.

How do I get rides with SacRT GO?

SacRT GO gives shared rides to people whose disability keeps them from using SacRT buses and light rail. Age alone doesn't qualify you, and the application is at sacrt.com/accessible.

Once you're approved, call (916) 321-2877 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., then press 2, and 2 again. Book by 5 p.m. the day before. Each one-way trip is $5, and a personal care attendant rides free. 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 Sacramento?

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services gives a free 30-pound box of groceries to people 60 and older. In October 2026, it lists an income limit of $1,995 a month for one person and $2,705 for two. In the city, boxes go out at the Hart Senior Center on the third Wednesday morning. South Natomas Community Center has them on the first and third Tuesdays, and Pannell Meadowview on the fourth Monday.

Sign up in person, with proof of your age and address. Monthly food money comes from CalFresh.

How do I lower my SMUD, PG&E and city utility bills?

To lower your SMUD bill, call 1-888-742-7683 and ask about its Energy Assistance Program Rate (EAPR). It takes up to $105 a month off, and the lower your income, the bigger the discount. Since February 1, 2026, homes of one or two people making up to $3,607 a month can get it. If you use an oxygen concentrator or home dialysis machine, also ask about the $15 Medical Equipment Discount.

Once you have EAPR, apply for the city's Utility Rate Assistance, a monthly credit on your water, sewer and garbage bill. Send a SMUD bill from the past two months that shows EAPR, online or by mail to 1395 35th Avenue. The city bill must be in your name at your home. For a paper form, call (916) 808-5454.

If PG&E sends your gas bill, call 1-866-743-5832 and ask for CARE, which takes 20 percent off. For a one-time credit, apply for HEAP at (916) 567-5200. See energy bill help in California.

What a Pair Team advocate does

In Sacramento, a Medicare call often turns into a DHA renewal, a past-due SMUD bill or a question about adult day care.

• Apply through DHA with you, then follow up until there's an answer.
• Apply for SMUD's discount, then use it to get the city's utility credit.
• Help you apply for SacRT GO, and book Medi-Cal rides.
• Set up a Triple-R visit, or a HICAP visit at the Hart Senior Center.

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 Elk Grove. Is this my page?

If you live in Elk Grove, the county offices and SMUD serve you too. But the city utility credit and 311 are for the City of Sacramento. In Elk Grove, senior food boxes go out at the Elk Grove Food Bank, 9888 Kent Street. Elk Grove has its own page: Medicare help in Elk Grove.

How do I get on a housing waitlist in Sacramento?

To get on a housing waitlist in Sacramento, check Sacwaitlist.com, the only place SHRA posts its lists. In October 2026, its Section 8 voucher list was closed, and lists open and close often. Never pay anyone to apply. Call (916) 440-1390 to set an appointment at 630 I Street. See housing help in California.

Can I get free legal help in Sacramento?

Yes, Legal Services of Northern California runs a Senior Legal Hotline for people 60 and older, at (916) 551-2150 on weekdays. It helps with Medicare, Medi-Cal, medical bills, housing, elder abuse and wills.

What's the difference between 311 and 211 in Sacramento?

Sacramento 311 is the line for city services, like a pothole or illegal dumping. Dial 311 in city limits, or (916) 808-5011 from outside. For food, housing or bill help, dial 211.

How do I report elder abuse in Sacramento?

Report elder abuse to Adult Protective Services at (916) 874-9377. If someone is in danger right now, call 911.

Sources

• Contact Us, Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance
• DHA Service Center, Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance
• Applying for IHSS, Sacramento County Department of Child, Family and Adult Services
• IHSS Public Authority, Sacramento County
• Hart Senior Center, City of Sacramento
• Older Adult Services Programs, City of Sacramento
• Triple-R Adult Day Centers, City of Sacramento
• Financial Assistance, City of Sacramento Department of Utilities
• 311 Service Center, City of Sacramento
• Sacramento County, Agency on Aging Area 4
• Contact Us, HICAP of Northern California
• SacRT GO Paratransit Service, SacRT
• SacRT Fare Categories, SacRT
• Food for Seniors, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services
• Income-eligible assistance, SMUD
• Medical Equipment Discount, SMUD
• CARE/FERA Program, California Public Utilities Commission
• Utility Assistance, Community Resource Project
• Housing Choice Voucher Program, SHRA
• SHRA Waiting Lists, Sacwaitlist.com
• Senior Legal Services, Legal Services of Northern California
• About Us, 211 Sacramento
• 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles, CMS