Medicare Help in Santa Ana

This page covers the city of Santa Ana. For the statewide rules, start with Medicare help in California.

Santa Ana is the county seat, so the county's offices for Medi-Cal, CalFresh and paid help at home are here in town. The city runs two senior centers, free senior rides, its own water service and a housing authority. They serve downtown, Delhi, Logan, Willard, Floral Park, French Park and the rest of the city. If your rent just went up or a water bill is past due, start with the table below.

Local offices in Santa Ana

Not sure you qualify? Apply anyway, because the county decides, and one Medi-Cal form also checks you for the Medicare Savings Programs. If you'd 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 Santa Ana?

You can apply for Medi-Cal or CalFresh online at BenefitsCal.com, by phone at 1-800-281-9799, or in person. The county's office here is the Santa Ana Regional Center, Building B, at 1928 South Grand Avenue. It's open on weekdays from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., the county says. 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, usually taken from your Social Security check. See Medicare and Medi-Cal together in California.

For paid help at home, the county's IHSS office is also in town, at 2020 West Walnut Street. Call (714) 825-3000 on a weekday. Read more about IHSS in California.

Where can I get free Medicare counseling in Santa Ana?

You can get free Medicare counseling at both city senior centers, from HICAP counselors who speak English and Spanish. They visit the Santa Ana Senior Center on the first Wednesday of the month and the Southwest Senior Center on the fourth. Both run from 9 a.m. to noon, the Council on Aging says. Call (714) 560-0424, or (714) 619-2130 for Spanish.

Each fall, during Open Enrollment from October 15 to December 7, HICAP also holds a longer clinic at the Southwest Senior Center, so ask for the date. HICAP doesn't sell insurance, and Pair Team doesn't sell plans either. A change you make starts January 1, Medicare.gov says.

What do Santa Ana's senior centers offer?

Santa Ana's two senior centers offer classes, lunch and food help for older adults. They're open on weekdays from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., the city says, and you sign up in person.

• Lunch: Meals on Wheels Orange County serves weekday lunch at both centers to people 60 and older, for a suggested $3.
• Food bags: On the second and third Thursdays of each month, both centers hand out bags of shelf-stable food. It's for older adults with low income who register for a card.

If you can't leave home, Meals on Wheels Orange County delivers meals at (714) 823-3294. Monthly food money comes from CalFresh.

How can older adults get rides in Santa Ana?

Older adults can ride Senior Cruisers, the city's free van for residents 60 and older. It takes you from home to either senior center and back on weekdays, and it runs weekly grocery trips, the city says. Call (714) 571-4285 to sign up.

If a disability keeps you from riding the bus, OC ACCESS gives shared van rides for $3.60 each way in 2026. Call (714) 560-5956, extension 2, to set up the in-person check, OCTA says. Medi-Cal plans also give rides to medical visits. See Medi-Cal rides in California.

How do I get help with rent in Santa Ana?

You can get help with rent in Santa Ana from two city offices. If you rent now, the Rent Stabilization Division answers questions about the 2.87 percent limit at (714) 667-2209. Rent can go up only once a year, and only if the unit is registered and up to code, the city says.

The Santa Ana Housing Authority runs Section 8, and both of its waiting lists are closed for now. Call (714) 667-2284 before you go, since you may need an appointment. See housing help in California.

How do I lower my power, gas and water bills in Santa Ana?

To lower your power and gas bills, start with LIHEAP, which helps pay them. Apply at caliheapapply.com or call Community Action Partnership at (714) 839-6199. Then ask Southern California Edison and SoCalGas about CARE. It takes 30 to 35 percent off power and 20 percent off gas, the state says. See LIHEAP in California.

The city runs its own water service. If you fall behind, you have 60 days to pay before the water can be shut off, the city says. Call Municipal Utility Services at (714) 647-5454 to ask for a payment plan. Homes with very low income can also ask the city to waive its 5.5 percent tax on phone, power, gas and water bills, the city says.

What a Pair Team advocate does

Here, a call to us about Medicare often turns into a rent increase notice or a past-due water bill. Your advocate makes the calls and follows up until there's an answer.

• Help you sign up for Senior Cruisers and the senior center lunch.
• Book a HICAP visit for you in English or Spanish.
• Help you call the Rent Stabilization Division about a rent increase.
• Help you apply for Medi-Cal, CalFresh or IHSS, and for CARE and LIHEAP.

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 Tustin, Orange or Garden Grove. Is this my page?

If you live in Tustin, Orange or Garden Grove, the county offices on this page serve you too. The senior rides, rent law and water service are only for people who live in Santa Ana. Garden Grove has its own page: Medicare help in Garden Grove. For nearby cities, see Anaheim, Irvine or Huntington Beach.

Can I get help in Spanish in Santa Ana?

You can get help in Spanish in Santa Ana from HICAP, on its Spanish line or at the senior center visits. The city's rent law and housing notices come in English, Spanish and Vietnamese, the city says.

What if my landlord raises my rent more than 2.87 percent?

If your landlord raises your rent more than 2.87 percent, call the Rent Stabilization Division at (714) 667-2209. Staff can tell you if your home is covered by the city's rent law. Your landlord also has to give you a written notice of your rights, the city says.

What if I get a shut-off notice from Edison or SoCalGas?

If you get a shut-off notice from Edison or SoCalGas, call Community Action at (714) 839-6199 the same day. LIHEAP has crisis help for homes with a 24 to 48 hour shut-off notice, the state says.

How do I report abuse of an older adult in Santa Ana?

To report abuse of an older adult in Santa Ana, call Adult Protective Services at 1-800-451-5155, day or night. For someone in a nursing home or care home, call the Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-800-300-6222.

Sources

• Office Locations by List, County of Orange Social Services Agency
• How Do I Apply for Medi-Cal?, County of Orange Social Services Agency
• In-Home Supportive Services, County of Orange Social Services Agency
• Senior Services, City of Santa Ana
• Senior Food Assistance, City of Santa Ana
• Transportation Services, City of Santa Ana
• Housing Authority, City of Santa Ana
• Allowable Rent Increase Is 2.87% for Sept. 1, 2026, Through Aug. 31, 2027, City of Santa Ana
• Santa Ana Residents Will Now Have 60 Days to Pay a Past-Due Utility Bill Before Water Shutoff, City of Santa Ana
• Utility Service for Low Income Households, City of Santa Ana
• HICAP Counseling Locations, Council on Aging Southern California
• HICAP Medicare Enrollment Assistance, Council on Aging Southern California
• Medicare Counseling (HICAP), California Department of Aging
• Contact, Meals on Wheels Orange County
• Lunch Café, Meals on Wheels Orange County
• Home Delivered Meals, Meals on Wheels Orange County
• OC ACCESS Service, Orange County Transportation Authority
• OC ACCESS Service Eligibility, Orange County Transportation Authority
• Addressing Immediate Needs, Community Action Partnership of Orange County
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, California Department of Community Services and Development
• CARE/FERA Program, California Public Utilities Commission
• 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles, CMS