Ways to Save on Medi-Cal or CalFresh
Published by IHSSHours.com ·
🌐 Leer en Español →Most people who get IHSS are on Medi-Cal, and many also get CalFresh. Being on either one can qualify a household for discounts that have nothing to do with IHSS: on the electric and gas bill, on phone service, and on shopping. None of them change your IHSS hours. Here is what each one is and where to sign up.
CARE (California Alternate Rates for Energy). CARE takes 30 to 35 percent off the electric bill and 20 percent off natural gas for customers of the large utilities. Utilities with fewer than 100,000 customers give 20 percent off electric. You qualify if anyone in the household is on Medi-Cal, CalFresh, SSI, WIC, LIHEAP or another listed program, or by household income. Ask your utility for a CARE application or apply on its website.
FERA (Family Electric Rate Assistance). FERA is for households whose income is a little over the CARE limit. It takes 18 percent off the electric bill and is offered by PG&E, SCE and SDG&E.
Medical Baseline. If someone in the home relies on life-support equipment, such as a respirator, nebulizer, dialysis machine or motorized wheelchair, or has certain conditions, including multiple sclerosis, a compromised immune system, or paraplegia or quadriplegia, the utility can bill extra electricity and gas at its lowest price. Ask your utility how to apply. This one does not depend on Medi-Cal or income.
California LifeLine. LifeLine takes up to $19 a month off home phone or cell phone service and lowers some connection fees. Medi-Cal, CalFresh, SSI and several other programs qualify a household, or you can qualify by income. Apply at californialifeline.com or through a phone company that offers LifeLine. You will need proof that you qualify.
Prime Access. Amazon offers Prime for $6.99 a month, less than half the regular price, to people on Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California), SNAP (CalFresh), SSI, WIC, TANF and several other programs. You verify once, then again every 12 months. Prime includes free delivery, which helps when getting to a store is hard. See if you qualify on Amazon.
Paying with CalFresh EBT. If you get CalFresh, you can add your EBT card to your Amazon account and use it to pay for eligible groceries. Add your EBT card on Amazon.
Subscribe & Save for supplies. For supplies you buy every month, such as gloves, wipes and bed pads, Amazon's Subscribe & Save lowers the price on repeat deliveries, and you can skip or cancel a delivery. How Subscribe & Save works. Our home care equipment page lists the supplies families ask about most.
The three Amazon links above go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, IHSSHours.com earns from qualifying purchases and sign-ups, at no extra cost to you. We earn nothing from the energy or phone programs.
- California Public Utilities Commission, CARE/FERA Program — discounts, qualifying programs, and income limits for June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027
- California Public Utilities Commission, Medical Baseline — who qualifies and what it provides
- California Public Utilities Commission, California LifeLine — qualifying programs, income limits, and the monthly discount
- Amazon, Prime Access discounted membership — price, qualifying programs, and yearly re-verification (updated August 6, 2026)
Checked against the pages above on October 12, 2026. IHSSHours.com is independent and is not affiliated with any utility, phone company, government program or Amazon. Educational information, not legal or financial advice.
Educational information, not legal advice. Only your county can authorize IHSS services, and only after an assessment. IHSSHours.com is an independent resource and is not affiliated with CDSS or any county IHSS office. · More IHSS guides