HMO Guide for Seniors - Office of the Patient Advocate - State of ...

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Help Paying for Medicare
C
alifornia has programs to help seniors with low incomes
and limited assets pay for health care. You can have a home, one
car, and some assets, like savings, stocks, or bonds. If you are not
eligible for Social Security, you can still apply for these programs.
Medi-Cal
Mrs. Garcia
couldn’t pay all her
medical bills. She
called HICAP.
“HICAP told me
about the Medicare
Savings Programs
and how to apply.”
Medi-Cal is the California name for Medicaid—the government
health insurance program for people with low incomes. If you qualify
for Medi-Cal, it will pay for most of your Medicare costs. Medi-Cal
also covers long-term care and some other services that Medicare
does not cover.
To get Medi-Cal, your income and assets must be below certain limits.
If your assets are low but your income is higher than the limit, you
may qualify for the Medi-Cal Share of Cost program. You will have
to pay part of your costs each month, and then Medi-Cal will pay part.
For more information, call your county Social Services office.
The Medicare Savings Programs
These programs pay for some Medicare costs.
You may qualify for these programs if your
assets are higher than the Medi-Cal limit but
your income is low. To apply, call your county
Social Services office. For more information,
call HICAP.
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