Healthcare is available for individuals and families through programs including Medi-Cal, Medicare Premium Payment assistance, and the County Medical Services Program (CMSP).

Medi-Cal

Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid health care program. This is a public health insurance program that pays for a variety of medical services for children and adults with limited income and resources.

Medicare Savings Plan (MSP) formerly called Medicare Premium Payment Program

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people 65 or older, and some younger people with disabilities. To apply for Medicare, you need to go through the federal government - you can apply online at Medicare.gov. If you have Medicare coverage, Medi-Cal may be able to pay your Medicare Part B premiums through a Medicare Savings Plan. You may also be eligible to receive Medicare and Medi-Cal coverage at the same time, which can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs. People are encouraged to apply for full scope Medi-Cal…

Medicare provides health insurance through Medicare for adults age 65 and older, and for individuals with disabilities or permanent kidney failure. Coverage includes hospital care, medical services, and prescription drugs.

Medicare consists of three parts:

• Part A: Covers inpatient hospital care and some follow-up care
• Part B: Covers doctor visits and other outpatient services
• Part D: Offers a prescription drug benefit

Medicare also provides tools to locate Medicare providers and local Social Security offices.

Web pages

• Home - www.medicare.gov
• Access SSA Services Online - www.ssa.gov/onlineservices
• Find Nearby Locations - https://www.ssofficelocation.com/auburn-social-security-office-so66
• Find Providers - https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/
• Participating Pharmacies - https://www.medicare.gov/covid-19-tests-participating-pharmacies

Kaiser Permanente is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit health plans, serving 12.2 million members. It comprises:

• Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc.
• Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and its subsidiaries
• Permanente Medical Groups

The Kaiser Permanente Greater Sacramento service area includes Sacramento County and Placer County which are served by the Roseville, Sacramento, and South Sacramento medical centers.

Web pages

• Home - https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/northern-california/front-door
• Find Doctors & Locations - https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/northern-california/doctors-locations#/search-form
• Kaiser Permanente of Northern California - https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/get-care
• COVID-19 Vaccine Information - https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine
• Flu Vaccine Information - https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/cold-and-flu/prevention#/prevention
• Permanente Medical Groups - https://permanente.org/

Kaiser Permanente (KP) covers non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) inside the Kaiser Permanente service area, when you cannot get to your medical appointment by car, bus, train, or taxi, due to your medical or physical condition. Non-medical transportation (NMT) may also be covered, depending on your plan.

The Kaiser Permanente (KP) Greater Sacramento service area includes Sacramento County and Placer County which are served by the Roseville, Sacramento, and South Sacramento medical centers.

Kaiser Permanente Transportation Services

​For comprehensive information, KP members should call the Member Service Contact Center number listed on their health insurance card to learn their benefit eligibility for transportation.

• Non-emergency medical transportation - Call 833-226-6760. Medi-Cal assigned recipients who have assigned their plans to KP are eligible to receive covered Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT).
• Non-medical transportation - Call 844-299-6230. Medi-Cal assigned r…

Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy (HICAP) offers free local, individualized information and advocacy for Medicare beneficiaries and individuals becoming eligible within the next six months. Provides assistance to seniors or disabled persons with Medicare issues, including denials and appeals, supplemental insurance, and long term care insurance.

Volunteer HICAP Medicare counselors provide free, unbiased, and individualized counseling by appointment only.

• Nevada County appointment line: 530-258-6827
• Placer County appointment line (through Seniors First): 530-889-9500

HICAP aims to return phone messages within 2 business days, but it may be longer.

Covered California provides a state health insurance marketplace where individuals and small businesses in California can compare and purchase health plans. Helps determine eligibility for federal subsidies, tax credits, or Medi-Cal.

Services include:

• Offering one application for both Medi-Cal and Covered California plans
• Helping users compare health insurance options and apply for coverage
• Providing dental coverage for children with all plans; optional dental plans available for adults
• Supporting multiple languages via dedicated phone lines

Language Lines

Web pages

• Home - https://www.coveredca.com/
• Medi-Cal Eligibility and Covered California - Frequ…

The Legal Services of Northern California Health Program assists clients with legal problems related to getting and keeping health-care services.


Web pages

• Legal Services of Northern California Health Program - https://lsnc.net/office/lsnc-health-program

This is a Ready to Grow (R2G) resource. Ready to Grow is a First 5 Nevada County program to connect children 0-5 with services and information that support their well-being. Organizations with programs that have this R2G tag may have additional programs of interest to families.

The California Department of Managed Health Care help center helps consumers with health care issues and ensures that managed health care patients receive the medical care and services to which they are entitled. Educates consumers regarding non-jurisdictional issues, medical group or health plan closures, community resource referrals, and health plan contact information as well as mailing forms, applications, and informational brochures. Staff includes medical and legal professionals.

Website resources include:

• Health care in California
• How to file a complaint
• Your right to language assistance

Web pages

• Home - https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/
• Health care in California - https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/HealthCareinCalifornia.aspx
• File a complaint - https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/FileaComplaint.aspx
• Right to language assistance - https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/HealthCareinCalifornia/YourHealthCareRights/LanguageAssistance.aspx
• Contact - https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/AbouttheDMHC/ContactUs.aspx

Medi-Cal provides telephone support during normal business hours and an automated phone line for additional information and help after hours.

Medi-Cal phone support: 800-541-5555. The Telephone Service Center (TSC) is available 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday, except holidays.

People who have straight Medi-Cal can call this number to get a list of providers in their area that take Medi-Cal. Once they have Anthem Blue Cross, California Health and Wellness, or other managed care, they will need to contact those companies directly for a list of providers. In January 2024 the Medi-Cal contracted provider in Nevada and Placer Counties will be Partnership Healthplan of California (which will replace both Anthem Blue Cross and California Health and Wellness).

Automated Phone Center: 800-786-4346. The automated phone center is available 7am to 8pm, PST, seven days a week.

Web pages

• Home - https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/Pages/default.aspx

Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program. This is a public health insurance program which provides needed health care services for low-income individuals including families with children, seniors, persons with disabilities, foster care, pregnant people, and low income people with specific diseases such as tuberculosis, breast cancer, or HIV/AIDS.

Medi-Cal is free or low-cost for California residents who meet eligibility requirements. Medi-Cal considers income, but there is no asset limit (bank accounts, cash, property, vehicles).

Most applicants who apply through Covered California and enroll in Medi-Cal will receive care through managed health care plans. In Nevada and Placer Counties, the managed care provider is Partnership HealthPlan of California (PHC). Medi-Cal is financed equally by the state and federal government. Medi-Cal and Covered California use the same application. This means that once you apply using CoveredCA.com, you’ll find out which program you qualify for. Some hou…