Key points
- DHCS says PACE participants must be at least 55, live in a PACE service area, meet the state's nursing-home level-of-care requirement, and be able to live safely in the community.
- PACE uses an interdisciplinary team and provides or coordinates a broad set of medical and social services.
- DHCS lists AltaMed PACE, CalOptima Health PACE, and Orange County PACE in its Orange County directory checked for this guide.
- PACE is different from OneCare and other D-SNPs. A D-SNP is a Medicare Advantage plan for people who have Medicare and Medicaid.
- IHSS helps pay for authorized in-home services. It is not the same as joining a PACE plan.
Who may qualify for PACE
DHCS lists four core requirements: age 55 or older, residence in a PACE service area, certification by DHCS of a nursing-home level of care, and the ability to live safely in the home or community at enrollment.
The program must also check the actual service area and available enrollment. Eligibility is not decided by age alone.
What all-inclusive care means
PACE uses an interdisciplinary team to provide and coordinate preventive, primary, acute, and long-term care services for eligible participants. The goal is to help an older adult remain in the community when safe.
Ask the PACE organization what services it provides, where care happens, transportation rules, after-hours care, and what happens if you leave the service area.
Orange County PACE programs
The DHCS Orange County directory lists AltaMed PACE, CalOptima Health PACE, and Orange County PACE. Service areas and openings can change, so verify your ZIP code and current enrollment with DHCS or the program directly.
Medicare.gov Plan Finder also has a PACE search. Do not assume that a program listed for Orange County serves every ZIP code without checking.
PACE, OneCare, D-SNP, and IHSS
OneCare is CalOptima Health's Medicare Advantage HMO D-SNP. A D-SNP is a type of Medicare Advantage plan for people with Medicare and Medicaid. PACE is a separate all-inclusive care model with nursing-home level-of-care eligibility.
IHSS is a California program that helps pay for authorized services so eligible people can remain safely at home. A person may need to compare how PACE, Medicare, Medi-Cal, and IHSS work together before changing anything.
How to ask about enrollment
Start with the official DHCS PACE plan list and your ZIP code. Ask whether the program is accepting applications, whether the state has certified your level of care, what coverage will change, and how to disenroll or return to another Medicare option if PACE is not the right fit.
Steps
- Check the four requirements. Age, service area, nursing-home level of care, and safe community living.
- Check your ZIP code. Use the current DHCS PACE plan list and call the program.
- Compare coverage. Ask how Medicare, Medi-Cal, prescriptions, doctors, transportation, and IHSS will work.
- Get the enrollment terms. Keep written information before changing Medicare or Medi-Cal coverage.
Quick check
- I am at least 55.
- My ZIP code is in the program's current service area.
- DHCS or the program will assess nursing-home level of care.
- I understand how PACE changes my current Medicare, Medi-Cal, and IHSS arrangements.
Questions to ask
- Does the program serve my ZIP code today?
- Has DHCS certified my level of care?
- What happens to my Medicare Advantage or Part D coverage?
- Can I keep my current doctors and medicines?
- How does PACE coordinate with IHSS?
Common questions
What is PACE?
PACE is the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. It coordinates medical and social services for eligible older adults who need a nursing-home level of care but can live safely in the community.
What age can I join PACE?
DHCS says a person must be 55 or older, live in a PACE service area, meet the state level-of-care rule, and be able to live safely in the community.
What PACE programs does DHCS list in Orange County?
The DHCS Orange County directory checked for this guide lists AltaMed PACE, CalOptima Health PACE, and Orange County PACE. Verify your ZIP code and current availability.
Is PACE the same as OneCare?
No. OneCare is a Medicare Advantage HMO D-SNP. PACE is a separate all-inclusive care program with its own eligibility and service-area rules.
Is PACE the same as IHSS?
No. IHSS helps pay for authorized in-home services for eligible people. PACE coordinates an all-inclusive care model for people who meet its requirements.
Where can I find a PACE program?
Use the current DHCS PACE plan list and Medicare.gov's PACE search, then call the program to confirm your ZIP code and eligibility.
Official sources
- DHCS: Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
- DHCS: Orange County Medi-Cal managed care directory
- DHCS: California PACE plans and service areas
- DHCS: In-Home Supportive Services
- CalOptima Health: OneCare
- Medicare.gov: Plan Finder
Related guides
- Medicare and Medi-Cal in Orange County
- Medicare 2027 in Orange County
- Medicare enrollment periods in California
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