Most Californians obtain health insurance through the private market, yet many are uninsured. For example, almost one in five non-elderly Californians lack any form of health insurance, and many of these are children. These uninsured individuals are less likely to have a usual source of care, less likely to obtain preventive screenings, and more likely to delay or forego needed care than those with health insurance. The following organizations provide assistance and counseling in finding affordable health insurance that is appropriate for your needs.

The California Health Care Foundation (CHCF)
The California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) seeks to improve the functioning of California’s health insurance markets, and to expand coverage to the uninsured. By serving as an unbiased source of analysis regarding the health insurance market, CHCF can enhance the quality of purchaser decision-making about health insurance.

Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program
The Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) is funded by the California Department of Aging (CDA). HICAP provides objective, individualized counseling and advocacy services to Medicare beneficiaries addressing Medicare benefits, Medicare supplemental insurance plans, health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and long term care insurance coverage. Trained volunteer counselors and paid staff offer objective information to help seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries make good health care decisions, as well as help to resolve problems. HICAP offers both individual counseling and community education presentations. Volunteer counselors receive many hours of training and are registered with the State of California. HICAP services are free, and counselors do not sell, recommend or endorse any insurance product, agent, insurance or health maintenance company.

Counseling sites are located throughout the county. Trained, state-registered volunteer counselors, serving seniors and disabled people on Medicare and their families, provide free, objective counseling concerning Medicare, insurance supplements, HMO, long term care, billing and claims.

The HICAP Speakers Bureau will provide speakers on Medicare and related topics in order to share information with professional associations, community groups, senior centers, faith-based organizations, unions, women's groups, political clubs, benevolent organizations, and any other interested group. There is no charge for this service.

The Santa Clara HICAP office also sponsors in-depth workshops, seminars, panel discussions and community education forums on a variety of Medicare and health-insurance related topics. These services are free.

The Santa Clara County HICAP office is located at

Council on Aging - Silicon Valley
2115 The Alameda
San Jose, CA 95126
General Inquiries: 408.296.8290 or 1.800.434.0222
FAX: 408.249.8918
E-mail address: hicap@sccoa.org

Office Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

• About health insurance counseling
• Get more information on the Santa Clara County HICAP program
• Find out more about the California Health Care Foundation