Free and Low-Cost Medical Care for Seniors in San Diego County

When you’re living on a fixed income, the cost of medical care can feel overwhelming. Doctor visits, prescriptions, physical therapy, transportation to appointments. Many San Diego seniors don’t realize that a program already exists that covers all of it, often at no cost whatsoever.

If you or a loved one is 55 or older, lives in San Diego County, and has Medi-Cal (or both Medi-Cal and Medicare), you may qualify for a comprehensive care program that covers virtually everything and it’s called PACE.

What Is PACE? Who is St. Paul’s PACE?

PACE stands for Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. It’s a managed healthcare program designed specifically for seniors with chronic medical conditions who want to continue living safely at home rather than move to a nursing facility.

St. Paul’s PACE has been serving San Diego seniors since 2008, caring for more than 4,000 participants across the county. The program is built around one simple idea: older adults deserve complete, coordinated care, not a patchwork of appointments and bills.

Is PACE Really Free?

For seniors who qualify, yes! PACE can be completely free.

If you have Medi-Cal with no share of cost, all St. Paul’s PACE services are covered at no charge to you. If you have both Medi-Cal and Medicare, those programs together fund your care. The only exception is for participants who have a Medi-Cal share of cost, in which case they are responsible for their individual share.

That means no copays, no surprise bills, and no out-of-pocket costs for the wide range of services included in the program.

Who Qualifies for PACE in San Diego?

To be eligible for St. Paul’s PACE, you must:

Most qualifying participants have Medi-Cal, Medicare, or both. If you’re unsure whether you qualify for Medi-Cal, an enrollment specialist at St. Paul’s PACE can walk you through it, they often help families discover benefits they didn’t know they had.

Where Are St. Paul’s PACE Locations?

St. Paul’s PACE has four primary care clinics throughout San Diego County, making it easy to access care close to home:

No matter which part of the county you live in, there’s likely a location nearby, and remember, transportation to and from your care center is included.

You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone

Many San Diego seniors and their families spend months, sometimes years, piecing together care from different sources, paying out of pocket, and struggling to coordinate everything. PACE was designed to solve exactly that problem.

If you or someone you love is 55 or older, living in San Diego County, and dealing with chronic health conditions, it’s worth a phone call to find out whether you qualify.

Call St. Paul’s PACE at 1(833)722-3669 or fill out a free evaluation form online at stpaulspace.org. There’s no obligation, and finding out if you qualify costs nothing.

St. Paul’s PACE | (619) 677-3800 Serving San Diego, Chula Vista, El Cajon, North County