Healthcare Programs Contact Information
It can be difficult to find the care you need, especially if you don’t have the right insurance or can’t afford to use the insurance you do have because of high deductibles.
The table below includes links to the most common questions people have about how to contact helpful public programs including Medi-Cal and Covered California.
We do our best to keep it updated but help us out by emailing healteam@heal-ca.org if you find a bad link or learn about another helpful program!
 | Medi-Cal 800-541-5555 | Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program. You must contact Medi-Cal directly about your application, coverage or other questions. Here are helpful links to Medi-Cal. For basics about Medi-Cal, click here. See if you qualify for Medi-Cal here. Find out how to apply for Medi-Cal here. Need care but your Medi-Cal card hasn't arrived? |
 | Covered California 800-300-1506 | Need health insurance? Do you qualify for premium subsidies or Medi-Cal? Here's how to find out. Covered California is California’s health insurance exchange, where individuals, families and small businesses can find affordable health insurance. Learn more here. |
 | HRSA Centers | HRSA centers provide healthcare services regardless of patients’ ability to pay and charge for services on a sliding fee scale. If you need free or low-cost care, find a local health center here. |
 | Prescription Drug Assistance | Do you need help paying for your medicine? Check out the Partnership for Prescription Assistance Or the American Cancer Society Or the California AIDS Drug Assistance Program |
 | Mental Health Programs | For mental health services, contact your local County Mental Health Program. Look up contact information by your county of residence. |
 | Dental Care 800-322-6384 | If you're on Medi-Cal and need dental care, check out the Denti-Cal program by calling 1-800-322-6384. If you aren't on Medi-Cal and don't have any dental insurance, find low-cost, sliding scale dental clinics in your area here. |
Disclaimer:
External links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by HEAL California or the California OneCare Education Fund of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. Neither HEAL California nor California OneCare Education Fund bear responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
I would like to obtain some information about Medicare, because I don’t know if my mom got it or not. Please could you send me an application for Medicare….
Thanks for reaching out with your question. Here is information that will get you started:
Signing up for Medicare is unnecessarily complicated, so we HIGHLY RECOMMEND that your mom speak with a counselor at California Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP) at no cost to her.
In fact, before you do anything else, call them. They will counsel your mom over the phone about her personal situation, and it costs nothing.
If your mom lives in California, call this number to get unbiased, free advice and explanations: 1-800-434-0222
If your mom doesn’t live in California, call this number: 1-800-677-1116
Keep in mind that depending on her income, your mom might qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid/Medi-Cal (called “dual eligibility”), in which case her costs could be reduced. Her HICAP counselor can advise her about this, too. But here’s a link to additional information about that: https://justcareusa.org/four-things-to-know-if-your-income-is-low-and-you-have-medicare/
Meanwhile, here is basic, general information. HICAP can give specific information on your mom’s situation.
The Medicare program is managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, but works closely with the Social Security Administration.
To find out if your mom is eligible for Medicare, click here:
https://www.medicare.gov/eligibilitypremiumcalc/
If she is eligible, then click here to find out the options she has to sign up:
https://www.medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans/getting-started-with-medicare
Note that Medicare doesn’t cover every healthcare cost and that’s what makes it confusing. Click here to learn more about that:
https://www.medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers
They divide up healthcare into “parts,” such a Part A (hospital costs), Part B (doctor charges). Medicare only covers 80% of these costs.
Part D (prescription drug charges) is not included at all.
So one option – which is actually the best option but it doesn’t seem like it – is to get Traditional Medicare (Part A & Part B), and then buy separate policies to cover the 20% gap that isn’t covered and to cover prescription drugs.
I realize that doesn’t sound like the best option, but it actually is, if she can afford it. To give you an idea of how much it would cost, my husband has Traditional Medicare, plus a Medigap policy for the 20% that Medicare doesn’t cover ($185 a month) plus a Prescription Drug policy ($35 a month). (There are choices for cheaper Medigap policies, more on that below.)
My husband got the most expensive Medigap policy, and had a heart attack. The hospital bill was over $200,000 and we paid NOTHING – no deductibles, no co-pays, no coinsurance. We also had no hassles.
If your mom can’t afford to go that route, then there’s Part C, which is “Medicare Advantage” plans.
“Medicare Advantage” coverage that is processed through commercial health insurance companies, usually on a for-profit basis. Medicare Advantage policies are not ideal because they limit access to doctors so that the insurance company can make a profit. People often sign up for Medicare Advantage policies because they don’t need to get any other policies or pay any extra money.
But once they get sick, they realize the insurance company makes them jump through hoops to get the care they need, because the insurance company is in the business of making a profit.
Here’s an article that explains why “Medicare Advantage” plans are actually “Dis-Advantage” plans: https://justcareusa.org/most-people-choose-traditional-medicare-over-medicare-advantage/
Again, we highly recommend that you contact HICAP to get advice for your mom’s specific situation. My husband spoke with them, and they were very helpful. For example, not every Medigap policy is alike! Some cover less than others, and they’re cheaper.
This should get you started.
Best,
The HEAL Team
P.S. Please note, one of the reasons that we advocate for “Medicare for All” is because of all these ridiculous complications!
We are not proposing that we expand the current Medicare program, but rather that we improve and expand it. Medicare for All would not have a 20% gap, or out-of-pocket costs. It would not limit choice of doctors. It would include treatment that Medicare doesn’t currently cover, like dental, vision and hearing. It would cover all residents of the country.
Medicare for All would help everybody get great care – and that’s what we support.