Medicare Help in San Francisco

This page covers the City and County of San Francisco, which share one government. For the statewide rules, start with Medicare help in California.

In San Francisco, you apply for Medi-Cal, CalFresh and the Medicare Savings Programs through HSA. DAS is part of HSA, and it runs In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), meals at home and the city's Area Agency on Aging. The same offices serve every neighborhood, including Chinatown, the Mission, the Richmond, the Sunset, Bayview and Treasure Island. If you're helping a parent who can't wait on hold, the Gough Street hub takes walk-ins with no appointment. For family in the East Bay, see Medicare help in Oakland or Fremont, and in the North Bay, Marin County.

Local offices in San Francisco

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 Francisco?

You can apply for Medi-Cal or CalFresh online at BenefitsCal.com, by phone at (855) 355-5757, or at a service center. Walk-ins are welcome on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1440 Harrison Street and 1460 Mission Street, HSA says. Older adults and people with disabilities can go to 2 Gough Street.

HSA can take up to 45 days to decide, or up to 90 days if you apply because of a disability. 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.

Where can older adults get walk-in help in San Francisco?

Older adults can walk in for help at the DAS Benefits and Resources Hub, at 2 Gough Street. It also serves people with disabilities and veterans, and you don't need an appointment. Staff help with IHSS, meals at home, Medi-Cal for IHSS and veterans' benefits. To ask for a disability accommodation, call (628) 328-2400 at least 72 hours before you go.

Most neighborhoods also have a senior center with free or low-cost classes, HSA says.

How do I apply for IHSS in San Francisco?

To apply for IHSS in San Francisco, call DAS at (415) 355-6700. You need Medi-Cal, and a health care professional must fill out a health form within 45 days of your application. If you don't have Medi-Cal or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) yet, an IHSS worker calls you to set up an interview. Then a social worker visits your home to decide your hours.

To find a caregiver, call the IHSS Public Authority at (415) 243-4477. See IHSS in California.

Where can I get free Medicare counseling in San Francisco?

For free Medicare counseling in San Francisco, call HICAP at Self-Help for the Elderly, (415) 677-7520. The office is on the second floor at 601 Jackson Street. HICAP doesn't sell insurance or plans, and Pair Team doesn't either.

How do I get free Muni or paratransit rides in San Francisco?

If you're 65 or older and live in San Francisco, you may ride Muni free, cable cars included. Your household income must be at or below the Bay Area median, the transit agency says. The pass goes on a Clipper card. Apply online or call (415) 646-2670.

San Francisco Paratransit is for people whose disability keeps them from riding Muni on their own some or all of the time. To get the form, call (415) 351-7000. Or pick one up at 68 12th Street on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

A van ride costs $2.85 one way. Pay the driver exact cash, or use a ticket you bought ahead. Riders who qualify can also use a taxi program. Every $6 you put on its debit card buys $30 of taxi rides, the city's transit agency says.

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 San Francisco?

If you can't leave home to shop or cook, call DAS at (415) 355-6700 to apply for meals at home. If your income is low and carrying groceries is hard, the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank can bring groceries each week. Call or text it at (415) 824-3663. People 60 and older can also eat at partner restaurants for a suggested $5 a meal. To ask, call Self-Help for the Elderly at (415) 677-7600. Monthly food money comes from CalFresh.

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

To lower your PG&E bill, start with LIHEAP. Here, San Francisco-Peninsula Energy Services runs it at (415) 416-6660. It puts a credit on your bill once a calendar year. It may give emergency help if you have a 15-day or 48-hour shut-off notice. Apply online at CaLIHEAPapply.com.

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

If the SFPUC sends your water and sewer bill, call (415) 551-3000 about its Customer Assistance Program. In 2026, one person can make up to $34,050 a year for 40 percent off, or $56,750 for 25 percent off. People in the program can't have their water shut off for late bills, the SFPUC says. See LIHEAP in California.

What a Pair Team advocate does

In San Francisco, a call to us about Medicare often turns into an IHSS form or a past-due PG&E bill.

• Apply for IHSS with you, and get the health form back within 45 days.
• Help you get ready for a visit to the Gough Street hub.
• Help you apply for free Muni, San Francisco Paratransit or its taxi program.
• Help you apply for LIHEAP, CARE and the SFPUC water discount.

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 Daly City. Is this my page?

This isn't your page if you live in Daly City, because Daly City is in San Mateo County. For Medi-Cal, call the county's Human Services Agency at 1-800-223-8383 or visit 271 92nd Street in Daly City. For IHSS, call San Mateo County Aging and Disability Services at (650) 573-3900, and for Medicare counseling, call HICAP at 1-800-434-0222.

How do I get on the San Francisco Housing Authority waitlist?

To get on the San Francisco Housing Authority waitlist, watch sfha.org, because all its lists are closed in October 2026. The last opening, in May 2025, had lists for people 62 and older. Call (415) 715-5200, or see housing help in California.

Can I take paratransit to Oakland or Berkeley?

Yes, East Bay Paratransit carries riders between San Francisco and East Bay cities. A trip from Oakland or Berkeley to Civic Center costs $6 one way, it says.

Can I get one plan for Medicare and Medi-Cal in San Francisco?

Yes, since January 2026 you can get one plan for both in San Francisco, called a Medi-Medi Plan, the state says. Read Medicare and Medi-Cal together in California.

Who do I call if an older adult is being abused?

Call Adult Protective Services at (415) 355-6700 or 1-800-814-0009, which HSA lists as open 24 hours. If someone is in danger right now, call 911.

Sources

• Contact Us, San Francisco Human Services Agency
• Apply for Medi-Cal, San Francisco Human Services Agency
• Locations, San Francisco Human Services Agency
• DAS Benefits and Resources Hub, San Francisco Human Services Agency
• Adult Learning and Activities, San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services
• Dr. George W. Davis Senior Center, Bayview Senior Services
• Become an IHSS Recipient, San Francisco Human Services Agency
• Groceries and Meals, San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services
• San Francisco: Services in My County, California Department of Aging
• HICAP of San Francisco, Self-Help for the Elderly
• Free Muni for Seniors, SFMTA
• Paratransit, SFMTA
• Eligibility and Registration, SFMTA
• Paying the SF Access Fare, SFMTA
• Paratransit Taxi and Ramp Taxi, SFMTA
• Fares and Map, East Bay Paratransit
• Waitlist, Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco
• 311 Customer Service Center, SF.gov
• Medi-Cal: HSA Regional Offices, San Mateo County Human Services Agency
• In-Home Supportive Services, San Mateo County Aging and Disability Services
• San Francisco-Peninsula Energy Services
• Services in San Francisco County, California Department of Community Services and Development
• CARE/FERA Program, California Public Utilities Commission
• Customer Assistance Program, Water and Wastewater, SFPUC
• Medi-Medi Plans, DHCS
• Medicare Savings Programs in California, DHCS
• 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles, CMS