Seniors and People with Disabilities

Is there help for seniors and people with disabilities?

Medi-Cal provides health care for low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Medicare pays for health care for seniors and people with disabilities regardless of income including hospital care. You may have to pay a premium and fee for some services.

Who gets Medicare?

You may if:

• You are 65 years old or older
• You are under 65 years old with certain disabilities
• You are any age with end-stage renal disease

You can apply for Medicare at your local Social Security office. You can also call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

For more information about Medicare, go to

• Medicare.gov or
• California Health Advocates (CHA) or
• California Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP)

Who gets Medi-Cal?

Medi-Cal pays for health care for some seniors and people with disabilities. See Medi-Cal Program for Aged and Disabled Persons. For more detailed information on programs for people with disabilities, you may read our Advocates’ issue brief, Disability Rights Quick Reference. You can also find information from these other groups:

• Visit the Protection & Advocacy, Inc. website for information about disabilities.
• The Association of Regional Center Agencies serve people with developmental disabilities.
• California Children’s Services serve children with medical conditions that are physically disabling or require medical, surgical, or rehabilitative services.
• Visit California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform for information about nursing homes.

Seniors and people with disabilities brochures

The Health Consumer Alliance has these materials to help you:
Brochures

• Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program
• Get free health services for your child from the Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) Gateway program
• Medicare Part D Basics
• Medicare Part D with a Medi-Cal Share of Cost
• Medicare Part D: Get “Extra Help”
• Medicare Part D: Exceptions & Appeals
• Medicare Part D: Changing Medicare Prescription Drug Plans
• Medicare Part D: How to Keep Getting the Extra Help with the Cost of Medicare Part D Prescription Drugs

Issue Briefs

• 250% Working Disabled Medi-Cal Program
• ABD-Medically Needy Medi-Cal for Persons who are Aged, Blind, or have Disabilities
• Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program
• Medi-Cal Program for Aged and Disabled Persons
• The Pickle Program
• Special Health Resources for Individuals with HIV/AIDS

Which health care program covers me?

The Health Consumer Alliance helps people get the health care they need. We can help you with your legal problems getting health care. Click on Local Centers to find the health consumer center near you.