Medicare Help in Santa Cruz County

This page covers all of Santa Cruz County. For the statewide rules, start with Medicare help in California.

In Santa Cruz County, you apply for Medi-Cal, CalFresh and the Medicare Savings Programs through HSD. HSD also runs In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), paid help at home. The Seniors Council of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties is the Area Agency on Aging. This page is for Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Scotts Valley, Capitola, Aptos, Live Oak and the San Lorenzo Valley. If you live up in the mountains and have stopped driving, Lift Line and the lunch sites below can get you out of the house. Over the hill, see Medicare help in San Jose, and to the south, Salinas.

Local offices in Santa Cruz County

Not sure you qualify? Apply anyway, because HSD 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 in Santa Cruz County?

You can apply for Medi-Cal online at BenefitsCal.com, by phone at 1-888-421-8080, or at an HSD office. The phone line is open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and both offices take walk-ins from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the county says.

The same form checks you for the Medicare Savings Programs. They can pay your copays and the $202.90 a month Medicare costs you in 2026. Once you're on Medi-Cal, your plan here is usually the Central California Alliance for Health. Its office in Scotts Valley takes walk-ins on Wednesdays, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4:30 p.m. See Medicare and Medi-Cal together in California.

How do I get IHSS in Santa Cruz County?

To get IHSS in Santa Cruz County, call (831) 454-4101 or (831) 763-8800 and press 2. You can also walk in at 500 Westridge Drive in Watsonville or 1400 Emeline Avenue in Santa Cruz. The form is called the SOC 295, and it comes in English and Spanish. IHSS checks your Medi-Cal and gives you a Medi-Cal form if you need one.

Next, your doctor fills out a health form called the SOC 873. Then a social worker visits your home to set your hours. Since January 1, 2026, IHSS caregivers here earn $20.90 an hour, the county says. To find a caregiver, ask the IHSS Public Authority about its registry at (831) 454-4036. See IHSS in California.

Where can I get free Medicare counseling in Santa Cruz County?

For free Medicare counseling in Santa Cruz County, call HICAP at Senior Network Services, 831-462-5510, or the state line, 1-800-434-0222. Counselors help you compare drug plans and sort out claims and bills, free and unbiased, Senior Network Services says. Each fall, Open Enrollment runs 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 Santa Cruz County?

At 65 and older, a bus ride on the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO) costs $1.00, and the Highway 17 Express costs $3.50, METRO says.

• Lift Line gives free door-to-door rides to county residents 60 and older, or with a disability. Your income must be under 300 percent of the poverty line. It drives you to doctors in the county and to visits in Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, Monterey and San Benito counties. Apply online or call 831-688-9663.
• ParaCruz is METRO's shared van for people whose disability keeps them off the bus. A ride costs $4, and it must start and end within three-quarters of a mile of a bus route. Apply through ADAride at (877) 232-7433, and you'll hear back within 21 days. Book at (831) 425-4664.
• Medi-Cal rides: if your plan is the Alliance, call 800-700-3874, ext. 5640, and ask for Lift Line by name. See Medi-Cal rides in California.

Where can older adults get lunch in Santa Cruz County?

Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County serves lunch on weekdays to people 60 and older at four sites. The suggested gift is $3.50, and no one is turned away. Call the site a day ahead to save a meal. Lift Line gives free rides there to people who qualify.

Meals delivered at home are for people 60 and older who are homebound and can't cook for themselves. Since April 2025, the program screens new clients and keeps a waitlist, so call early at 831-464-3180, ext. 100.

Grey Bears gives a free weekly bag of produce and staples to county residents 55 and older. At 2710 Chanticleer Avenue, you can also pick out free produce from 11 to 11:30 a.m. and stay for lunch on weekdays. Monthly food money comes from CalFresh.

How do I lower my power bill in Santa Cruz County?

To lower your power bill in Santa Cruz County, call PG&E at 1-866-743-5832 and ask about CARE. It takes 35 percent or more off electricity and 20 percent or more off gas, PG&E says. Medi-Cal, CalFresh or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can qualify you. Central Coast Community Energy may supply your power, but PG&E still runs CARE.

If you're behind, Central Coast Energy Services in Watsonville runs LIHEAP for the county, the state says. Call 1-888-728-3637, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. See LIHEAP in California.

What a Pair Team advocate does

In Santa Cruz County, a call to us about Medicare often comes with a ride to a doctor over the hill or an IHSS form.

• Apply for Medi-Cal and IHSS with you, and get the SOC 295 to the office nearest you.
• Fill out the Lift Line application with you, then book rides to your visits.
• Set up a HICAP appointment at Senior Network Services.
• Sign you up for a Grey Bears bag or a Meals on Wheels lunch.

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 Watsonville, Scotts Valley or Capitola. Is this my page?

Yes, this page covers Watsonville, Scotts Valley, Capitola and every other town in Santa Cruz County. HSD has its south county office at 500 Westridge Drive in Watsonville. Scotts Valley Senior Center is at 370 Kings Village Road (831-438-8666), and Capitola's Mid-County Social Center is at 829 Bay Avenue (831-476-4711).

How do I get on the Housing Authority waitlist in Santa Cruz County?

The Housing Authority waitlist for Section 8 in Santa Cruz County is closed, the authority says. Sign up for its housing alerts on hacosantacruz.org to hear when it opens. Some apartment lists may be open, so call (831) 454-9455, Monday to Thursday. See housing help in California.

Can I find a housemate who can help me stay at home?

Yes, Senior Network Services matches older adults with checked housemates who can help around the house. Its housing team, at 831-462-6788, also helps with housing searches and forms.

Can I get a ride to a doctor in San Jose or San Francisco?

Yes, Lift Line drives qualifying residents to medical visits outside Santa Cruz County, including San Jose and San Francisco, for free. To apply, call 831-688-9663 well before your visit.

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

Call Adult Protective Services at 1-866-580-4357 or (831) 454-4101, day or night, the county says. If someone is in danger right now, call 911.

Sources

• Contact and Location Information, County of Santa Cruz Human Services Department
• How Do I Apply for IHSS?, County of Santa Cruz Human Services Department
• IHSS Payroll FAQ, County of Santa Cruz Human Services Department
• IHSS Public Authority FAQ, County of Santa Cruz Human Services Department
• Santa Cruz County Medi-Cal Health Plans, DHCS
• Contact Us, Central California Alliance for Health
• Santa Cruz: Services in My County, California Department of Aging
• What We Do, Senior Network Services
• Lift Line, Community Bridges
• Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County, Community Bridges
• ParaCruz, Santa Cruz METRO
• Fares and Passes, Santa Cruz METRO
• Healthy Food Bag Sign-Up, Grey Bears
• Senior Center, City of Scotts Valley
• Mid-County Social Center, Capitola
• Waiting List Update, Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz
• Waiting Lists, Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz
• Services in Santa Cruz County, California Department of Community Services and Development
• California Alternate Rates for Energy Program, PG&E
• About 3CE, Central Coast Community Energy
• Cost Savings and Financial Assistance, Central Coast Community Energy
• Medicare Savings Programs in California, DHCS
• 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles, CMS