Medicare Help in San Luis Obispo County

This page covers San Luis Obispo County. For the statewide rules, start with Medicare help in California.

In San Luis Obispo County, the Department of Social Services handles Medi-Cal, CalFresh and the Medicare Savings Programs. It also runs IHSS, which is paid help at home. Since October 1, 2026, Family Service Agency has been the Area Agency on Aging here and in Santa Barbara County, and it runs HICAP. Meals That Connect serves lunch at 10 sites. This page covers San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Atascadero, Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, Morro Bay, Nipomo and the rest of the county. If your mother has stopped driving, she can ride the bus free from age 80, and the rides section shows how. Nearby, see Medicare help in Salinas and Medicare help in Santa Barbara County.

Local offices in San Luis Obispo County

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 IHSS in San Luis Obispo County?

Apply for Medi-Cal online at BenefitsCal.com, or at any of the county's six offices. They're open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and from 4 to 5 by appointment, the county says.

In 2026, one person 65 or older can have $1,836 a month in income and $130,000 in savings, the state says. The same form checks you for the Medicare Savings Programs. They can pay the $202.90 a month Medicare costs you, usually taken out of your Social Security check. Medi-Cal then signs you up with CenCal Health, the county's only Medi-Cal plan, the state says. See Medicare and Medi-Cal together.

For IHSS, call (805) 461-6110 in Atascadero or (805) 474-2103 in Arroyo Grande, or apply online. Your doctor also fills out a health form, and the county can't approve hours until it arrives. Then a social worker visits your home. See IHSS in California.

Where can I get free Medicare counseling in San Luis Obispo County?

You can get free Medicare counseling from HICAP at Family Service Agency, at (805) 842-5148. A certified counselor can compare plans, drug costs and Medigap with you, and help with appeals and billing questions. You can also email hicap@fsacares.org, but don't send your Medicare number. Open Enrollment runs each fall, October 15 to December 7, and changes start January 1. HICAP and Pair Team don't sell plans.

How do I get a ride in San Luis Obispo County?

To get a ride in San Luis Obispo County, pick the service that fits you.

• VIP Pass, 80 and older: Ride free on RTA, SLO Transit, South County, Paso Robles and Morro Bay buses. Get the photo card at 253 Elks Lane or 1114 Marsh Street.
• Bus discounts, 65 to 79: A 31-day regional pass costs $34, half the regular $68.
• Senior Go!: At 65 and older, a ride anywhere in the county costs $5 up to 20 miles, or $10 beyond. You get four round trips a month. Book two or three business days ahead at (805) 473-3333.
• Runabout: This van is for people whose disability keeps them off the bus. A ride costs $3 to $11 each way, and you book up to seven days ahead at (805) 541-2544. To apply, call (805) 781-1170.
• Medi-Cal rides: CenCal Health members book them through Ventura Transit System at 1-855-659-4600. See Medi-Cal rides in California.

Where can I get lunch or groceries in San Luis Obispo County?

At 60 and older, you can get a hot weekday lunch at 10 Meals That Connect dining sites. Call (805) 541-3312 to sign up, then reserve two days ahead. If you can't get out, the same program delivers meals, and the volunteer checks on you each visit.

The SLO Food Bank and Ride-On Transportation bring groceries each week to older adults with low income who can't leave home. Call (805) 238-4664. Monthly food money comes from CalFresh.

How do I lower my power and gas bills in San Luis Obispo County?

To lower your power and gas bills, ask PG&E and SoCalGas about CARE. PG&E sends the electric bill here, and SoCalGas sends the gas bill. CARE takes 30 to 35 percent off electric and 20 percent off gas, the state utility commission says. From June 2026 to May 2027, a home of one or two can make up to $43,280 a year.

For help paying a bill, the Community Action Partnership runs HEAP for the county. Its energy office is closed to walk-ins, so send the form by email to HEAP@capslo.org, by fax or by mail. It gives priority to people 65 and older and pays once a year. Include current gas and electric bills and six weeks of income proof. See utility bill help in California.

How do I get housing help in San Luis Obispo County?

The Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo's Section 8 list is closed, and it hopes to reopen when funding allows. When it's open, the wait runs about two to five years, and people 62 and older get a preference point, it says. Willow Walk Senior Apartments in Nipomo takes paper applications at any time for people 62 and older. The office is open Monday to Thursday, and it asks you to make an appointment. See housing help in California.

What a Pair Team advocate does

In San Luis Obispo County, calls to us often start with a ride to a doctor in a town far from home.

• Apply for Medi-Cal and IHSS with you, and get your doctor's health form in.
• Sign you up for Meals That Connect, and save your lunch seat.
• Help you get a VIP Pass, or book rides with Senior Go!
• Send your HEAP form, and apply for CARE with PG&E and SoCalGas.

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 Paso Robles, Atascadero or Arroyo Grande. Is this my page?

Yes, this page covers Paso Robles, Atascadero, Arroyo Grande and the rest of San Luis Obispo County. Each of those towns has its own county office. For Santa Maria and Lompoc, see Medicare help in Santa Barbara County.

Is there a Dial-A-Ride in Paso Robles or Atascadero?

Yes, there's a Dial-A-Ride in both towns. In Paso Robles, a ride costs $2.50 for older adults and people with disabilities, at (805) 239-8747. In Atascadero, the discount fare is $2.50 in the closest zone, at (805) 541-2228, extension 3.

Can I ride the bus free if I'm 80 but don't have a VIP card yet?

Yes, at 80 or older you can ride free without the card if you show a valid ID, the transit authority says. You can get the photo card later at its office.

What if the county denies my Medi-Cal?

If the county denies your Medi-Cal, you can ask for a state hearing within 90 days at 1-800-743-8525. The notice gives the reason, so keep it and any letters that came with it.

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

To report abuse of an older adult, call the county's Adult Services hotline at (805) 781-1790 during business hours. After hours, call (844) 729-8011. If someone is in danger right now, call 911.

Sources

• Our Locations, County of San Luis Obispo Department of Social Services
• In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Program, County of San Luis Obispo
• County IHSS Wage Rates, California Department of Social Services
• San Luis Obispo: Services in My County, California Department of Aging
• Area Agency on Aging, Family Service Agency
• New nonprofit named Area Agency on Aging after SLO County group steps down, The Tribune via Yahoo News
• Medicare Counseling, Family Service Agency
• Contact the Area Agency on Aging, Family Service Agency
• Dining Sites, Meals That Connect
• How Meals Work, Meals That Connect
• Food Distributions, SLO Food Bank
• Contact, SLO Food Bank
• Passes, San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority
• Runabout Paratransit, San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority
• Dial-A-Ride and Senior Go!, San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority
• Senior Go!, San Luis Obispo Council of Governments
• San Luis Obispo County, Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Plan Directory, DHCS
• Department Contacts, CenCal Health
• Transportation, CenCal Health
• Sign Up for Utility Service, City of San Luis Obispo
• CARE/FERA Program, California Public Utilities Commission
• California Alternate Rates for Energy, PG&E
• California Alternate Rates for Energy, SoCalGas
• Utility Assistance and HEAP, Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County
• Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo
• FAQs, Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo
• Contact, Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo
• Medicare Savings Programs in California, DHCS
• 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles, CMS