Skip to content
Pair Team

Medicare Help in San Diego

Here's who to call in San Diego for Medi-Cal, food, senior lunches, home care, rides, rent and power bills.

See if you qualify for a Pair Team advocate

  • An advocate is covered by Medicare if you qualify.
  • Works with Medicare and Medi-Cal health plans
  • A real person, by phone, text or video
  • Takes just a few minutes to check
Check if you qualify

Key points

  • The county has four Family Resource Centers inside the City of San Diego, open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. To apply by phone, call Access at 1-866-262-9881.
  • The city's AgeWell Services program serves a free weekday lunch at two senior centers to people 60 and older. Call (619) 525-8247.
  • The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) runs MTS Access, a van service. A ride costs $6 one way since October 1, 2026, and $6.50 from October 1, 2027.
  • The San Diego Housing Commission closed its Section 8 waiting list on February 1, 2026. For rent help in a crisis, call 619-578-7768.

This page covers the City of San Diego. For the statewide rules, start with Medicare help in California. For nearby cities, see Chula Vista, Oceanside or Escondido.

In the City of San Diego, the county's Health and Human Services Agency handles Medi-Cal, CalFresh and the Medicare Savings Programs. Its Aging & Independence Services (AIS) runs In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and senior meals, and the city runs its own senior centers. The San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) handles rent help inside city limits. These offices serve downtown, City Heights, Clairemont, Mira Mesa, San Ysidro and the rest of the city. If you've stopped driving and a Medi-Cal renewal packet is waiting, start with the table below.

Local offices in San Diego

What you need Office Phone Website
Medi-Cal, CalFresh, Medicare Savings Programs Access Customer Service Center 1-866-262-9881 BenefitsCal.com
Apply in person Family Resource Centers: Centre City, Metro, North Central, Southeastern 1-866-262-9881 sandiegocounty.gov
Paid help at home (IHSS), meals, aging services Aging & Independence Services (AIS) 1-800-339-4661 sandiegocounty.gov
Free Medicare counseling: Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) Elder Law & Advocacy (858) 565-1392. Other languages: (858) 565-8772 elaca.org
City senior centers and free weekday lunch City of San Diego AgeWell Services (619) 525-8247 sandiego.gov
Free meals every day of the year, downtown Serving Seniors, Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center (619) 235-6572 servingseniors.org
Rides for people with disabilities MTS Access 1-888-517-9627 sdmts.com
Rent help in a housing crisis San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) 619-578-7768 or 211 sdhc.org
Section 8 waiting list questions SDHC Wait List Call Center 619-578-7640 sdhc.org
Senior food box San Diego Food Bank 1-866-350-3663 sandiegofoodbank.org
Help paying energy bills: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Campesinos Unidos, or the Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee (MAAC) in five southern ZIP codes (619) 391-9790, (619) 434-3829 csd.ca.gov
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) discounts: California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE), Medical Baseline SDG&E 1-800-411-7343. Medical Baseline: 1-800-560-5551 sdge.com
City water bill and payment plans City of San Diego Public Utilities 619-515-3500 sandiego.gov
Any other local help 211 San Diego 211 211sandiego.org

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 San Diego?

Apply for Medi-Cal or CalFresh online at BenefitsCal.com, by phone, or at one of four county Family Resource Centers in the city:

  • Centre City: 1255 Imperial Avenue, 5th floor, 92101
  • Metro: 1130 10th Avenue, 92101
  • North Central: 5055 Ruffin Road, 92123
  • Southeastern: 5101 Market Street, 92114

All four are open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, the county says. The Access line at 1-866-262-9881 keeps the same hours. The same Medi-Cal form checks you for the Medicare Savings Programs, which can pay the $202.90 a month Medicare costs you in 2026. See how Medicare and Medi-Cal work together.

How do I get IHSS in San Diego?

To get IHSS in San Diego, call AIS at 1-800-339-4661 and apply by phone. You can also bring the form to an IHSS office at 5560 Overland Avenue, Suite 310, or 5101 Market Street, Suite 2100. A worker then visits your home, and your doctor fills in a health form. Read more about IHSS in California.

Where can I get free Medicare counseling in San Diego?

Elder Law & Advocacy runs HICAP for San Diego County, and its office is at 5151 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 110. To book a free appointment, call (858) 565-1392 or go to elaca.org. In Spanish or another language, call (858) 565-8772. Counselors compare plans and check for help with costs. HICAP doesn't sell insurance or plans, and Pair Team doesn't either.

Where can seniors get free meals in San Diego?

The City of San Diego runs four AgeWell Services sites for people 60 and older:

  • Park de la Cruz Community Center, 3901 Landis Street, (619) 525-8247: free lunch at noon on weekdays, with a $1 donation welcome.
  • Memorial Senior Center, 610 South 30th Street, (619) 668-2027: free weekday lunch.
  • Cathy Hopper Friendship Center, 4425 Bannock Avenue, (619) 235-1113.
  • Balboa Park Senior Lounge, Casa del Prado, (619) 235-1191, open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily.

Downtown, the Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center at 1525 4th Avenue serves free meals 365 days a year.

The San Diego Food Bank gives a free monthly box to people 60 and older. In 2026, the income limit is $1,995 a month for one person. Call 1-866-350-3663 to find the pickup site for your ZIP code. If you can't leave home, AIS can set up home-delivered meals. Monthly food money comes from CalFresh.

How do I get rides with MTS Access?

You can get rides with MTS Access if a disability keeps you from using MTS buses and the trolley. You must be certified before your first ride, so call 1-888-517-9627. Since October 1, 2026, a one-way ride costs $6, or $12 if you book the same day. If you have Medi-Cal, your plan also gives rides to medical visits. See Medi-Cal rides in California.

How do I get help with rent in San Diego?

For help with rent, call 211 or SDHC at 619-578-7768 and ask about the Housing Instability Prevention Program. It pays $250 to $1,000 a month toward rent for up to 24 months, SDHC says. You must live in the city, face a crisis such as an eviction, and have less than $2,000 in savings. People 55 and older come first.

SDHC closed its Section 8 waiting lists on February 1, 2026. If you already applied, your place still counts.

How do I lower my SDG&E and water bills?

To lower your SDG&E bill, start with LIHEAP, which helps pay energy bills. MAAC handles ZIP codes 92113, 92114, 92139, 92154 and 92173. In 2026 it pays up to $1,500, and a home of one can make up to $3,331 a month. Campesinos Unidos serves the rest of the city. To ask for its form, call (619) 391-9790 on a Monday or Wednesday.

Then call SDG&E at 1-800-411-7343 and ask about:

  • CARE takes 30 to 35 percent off your electric bill and 20 percent off gas. From June 2026 to May 2027, the income limit is $43,280 a year for one or two people. Medi-Cal, CalFresh or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can also qualify you.
  • Medical Baseline gives more power and gas at the lowest price. It's for people who use certain medical devices at home or need heat or air conditioning for their health.

If the city sends your water bill, call 619-515-3500 to ask for a payment plan. See LIHEAP in California.

What a Pair Team advocate does

In San Diego, a call to us about Medicare often comes with a county renewal letter or a rent increase. Your advocate makes the calls and follows up until there's an answer.

  • Help you apply for IHSS through AIS, and get you ready for the home visit.
  • Find the AgeWell lunch or Food Bank site closest to you.
  • Help you ask SDHC for rent help, and gather the papers.
  • Help with LIHEAP through MAAC or Campesinos Unidos, and with CARE and Medical Baseline forms.

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

How long does the county take to decide?

The county should take 30 days or less to decide on CalFresh, and 45 days on Medi-Cal, it says. A Medi-Cal case that needs a disability decision can take 90 days. If it takes longer, call Access at 1-866-262-9881.

I live in La Jolla, Rancho Bernardo or San Ysidro. Is this my page?

Yes, this is your page if you live in La Jolla, Rancho Bernardo or San Ysidro. All three are in the City of San Diego. In Chula Vista or National City, county help is the same, but city programs differ.

Does Medical Baseline depend on my income?

Medical Baseline doesn't depend on your income, because SDG&E bases it on medical need. A doctor signs the form.

What if I get a shut-off notice from SDG&E?

If you get a shut-off notice from SDG&E, apply for LIHEAP the same day and say you have a notice. MAAC puts homes with a 24 to 48 hour notice first, and adds points for anyone 60 or older.

What does 211 San Diego do?

211 San Diego is a free, private line for local help with food, housing and bills, open 24 hours a day.

Does Elder Law & Advocacy charge for HICAP help?

Elder Law & Advocacy doesn't charge for HICAP help. HICAP counseling is free and private, the California Department of Aging says.

Sources

More cities in California

Need a hand with the forms, the calls, or the follow-up?

A Pair Team advocate can check what you qualify for and stay with it until it's done. Most members pay $0.

Check Eligibility