Hello! I am Rachel J, the proud co-founder of the California chapter.

During the Covid 19 pandemic, countless individuals have been pushed into frequent hardship. Additionally, three years of heavy quarantine have diminished many sources of affordable aid. As I witnessed the small businesses in my town close down one by one, I realized that I wanted to help. I began to do my own research. According to the California Poverty Measure, California’s poverty rate climbed from 11% to 13% due to the expiration of COVID safety net programs at the end of 2023. I was shocked; I wanted to offer these fellow Californians concrete solutions instead of merely my condolences. I also wanted to make sure that they were able to access the social, medical, and legal services they needed. However, I wasn't sure how to push my dream into motion. That was when my story began to overlap with Steven’s.

I met Steven when I was studying modeling and directing in Beijing. We had taken the same modeling course and immediately hit it off during the first few days. Steven soon introduced me to a legal and social service website he was helping to create. He explained how it would give free aid to people needing legal assistance from all around the globe. I was instantly fascinated by this noble cause and took an immediate interest in the project. It was the perfect chance for me to put my dream into action. Images whirled into my mind; a small business owner stumbling upon our website, heaving a breath of relief as he found the instructions and resources he needed to aid him in the process of filing for bankruptcy. An elderly couple’s eyes widened with joy as they slowly scrolled through a page on applying for retirement benefits, finally able to make sense of the complex legal terms that used to cause them endless frustration. Even the thought of the countless relieved faces brought warmth to my heart. So, I told Steven about my dream and asked if there was a way I could contribute to this project. In the end, it was settled. Steven agreed to recruit me into the team, and we would bring the project to life together.

We know that accessing legal assistance can be challenging, especially for those already facing financial constraints. That’s why we built the California chapter, so that we could lend a hand to our fellow Californians with guides to comprehensive legal information and concerns about California’s laws and regulations. The California chapter is filled with a community of individuals like Steven and I, who believe in justice for everyone. We believe that every individual should have access to the resources they need in times of hardship. Together, we make sure that California’s individuals all have access to the help they deserve.

Medicare In Southern California

  Medicare is a federal health insurance program for

•  people who are 65 or older,

•  certain younger people with disabilities,

•  people with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant, sometimes called ESRD)

Eligibility for Medicare

•    Individuals older than 65 are automatically eligible

•   People under 65 may also qualify if they have a qualifying disability, and must have had  Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits for 24 months (Click here to learn more)

•  The individual must be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident who has lived in the United States for at least five continuous years.

 Different Parts of Medicare

Part A (Hospital Insurance)

•  Provides coverage for inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care services.

•  Eligibility for Premium free Medicare part A

•  Most people receive Part A coverage automatically when they turn 65, as long as they or their spouse have paid Medicare taxes while working.

•  An individual who is receiving monthly Social Security or RRB benefits, at least 4 months prior to turning age 65, does not need to file a separate application to become entitled to premium-free Part A.  In this case, the individual will get Part A automatically at age 65.

•  (Under the Basis of ESRD): Individuals are eligible for premium-free Part A if they receive regular dialysis treatments or a kidney transplant, have filed an application for Medicare, and meet one of the following conditions:

•  Have worked the required amount of time under Social Security, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), or as a government employee; or

•  Are getting or are eligible for Social Security or RRB benefits; or

•  Are the spouse or dependent child of a person who has worked the required amount of time under Social Security, the RRB, or as a government employee; or are getting Social Security or RRB benefits.

•  If you aren't eligible for premium-free Part A, you may be able to buy Part A. You'll pay up to $505 each month in 2024. If you paid Medicare taxes for less than 30 quarters, the standard Part A premium is $505. If you paid Medicare taxes for 30–39 quarters, the standard Part A premium is $278.

•  For more information click here to see more eligibility instructions

Part B (Medical Insurance)

•   Covers outpatient care, doctor visits, preventive services, and some home health care.

•  Optional and requires payment of a monthly premium. Individuals can choose to enroll in Part B during their initial enrollment period.

•  If you want Medicare coverage to start when your job-based health insurance ends, you need to sign up for Part B the month before you or your spouse plan to retire.

Part C (Medicare Advantage Plan)

•  Part C is also known as Medicare Advantage. It is an alternative to traditional Medicare (Part A and Part B) and is offered by private insurance companies.

•  Medicare Advantage plans often include coverage for hospital and medical services, and may also include additional benefits like vision, dental, and prescription drug coverage.

Part D (Drug Coverage)

•  Part D provides coverage for prescription drugs. It is offered by private insurance companies that are approved by Medicare.

•  To get Medicare drug coverage, you must join a Medicare-approved plan that offers drug coverage (this includes Medicare drug plans and Medicare Advantage Plans with drug coverage).

•   Enrollment in a Part D plan is optional, but individuals are encouraged to consider enrolling in a plan to help with the cost of prescription medications.

Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance)

•  Medigap plans, also known as Medicare Supplement Insurance, are private insurance plans that help cover the "gaps" in coverage left by traditional Medicare (Part A and Part B).

•  These plans can help with out-of-pocket costs such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.

Eligible and think Medicare is the right thing for you? Learn more and apply at Medicare Official Website: https://www.medicare.gov/

Medical Services in Northern California

Hospital and Medical Centers in Northern California

•  Stanford Hospital

•  Stanford Healthcare website

•  4.3/ 5.0 stars, 30 Google reviews

•  Address: 500 Pasteur Dr, Palo Alto, CA 94304

•  Phone: +1 (650) 723-4000

•  Hours: 24 hr

•  S accepts Medicare Fee-For-Service，accepts all Medi-Gap plans. Medi-Connect is a program for people that coordinate Medicare and Medi-Cal benefits through one health plan.

•  Kaiser Permanente Milpitas Medical Office

•  Milpitas Kaiser Medical office website

•  4.6/ 5.0 stars, 223 Google reviews

•  Address: 770 E Calaveras Blvd, Milpitas, CA 95035

•  Phone: (408) 945-2900

•  Hours:

Sunday & Saturday: Closed

Monday 8:30 AM–5 PM

Tuesday 8:30 AM–5 PM

Wednesday 8:30 AM–5 PM

Thursday 8:30 AM–5 PM

Friday 8:30 AM–5 PM

•  Accepts Medi-cal and Kaiser Permanente (Medi-cal information;  if you are a current Kaiser Permanente member and your situation changes, you may be able to keep your same doctor and continue your care with Kaiser Permanente if you qualify for Medi-Cal.)

•  Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center

•  Kaiser Permanente Website

•  4.4/ 5.0 stars, 1.6k Google reviews

•  Address: 700 Lawrence Expy, Santa Clara, CA 95051

•  Phone: +1 (408) 851-1000

•  Hours: 24 hr

•  Accepts Medi-cal and Kaiser Permanente (Medi-cal information;  if you are a current Kaiser Permanente member and your situation changes, you may be able to keep your same doctor and continue your care with Kaiser Permanente if you qualify for Medi-Cal.)

•  Kaiser permanente Mountain View Medical Offices

•  Mountain View Kaiser medical offices website

•  4.2/ 5.0 stars, 236 Google reviews

•  Address: 555 Castro street, Mountain View, 94041

•  Phone: +1 (650) 903-3000

•  Hours:

Sunday & Saturday: Closed

Monday 8:30 AM–5 PM

Tuesday 8:30 AM–5 PM

Wednesday 8:30 AM–5 PM

Thursday 8:30 AM–5 PM

Friday 8:30 AM–5 PM

•  Accepts Medi-cal and Kaiser Permanente (Medi-cal information;  if you are a current Kaiser Permanente member and your situation changes, you may be able to keep your same doctor and continue your care with Kaiser Permanente if you qualify for Medi-Cal.)

•  Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Arques Medical offices

•  Santa Clara Kaiser Medical office website

•  Address:1263 E Arques Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94085

•  3.7/ 5.0, 30 Google reviews

•  Phone: +1(408) 851-1000

•  Hours:

Sunday & Saturday: Closed

Monday 8:30 AM–5 PM

Tuesday 8:30 AM–5 PM

Wednesday 8:30 AM–5 PM

Thursday 8:30 AM–5 PM

Friday 8:30 AM–5 PM

•  Accepts Medi-cal and Kaiser Permanente (Medi-cal information;  if you are a current Kaiser Permanente member and your situation changes, you may be able to keep your same doctor and continue your care with Kaiser Permanente if you qualify for Medi-Cal.)

•  Regional medical center

•  Regional medical center website

•  3.9/5.0 stars, 1.7k Google reviews

•  Address: 225 N Jackson Ave, San Jose, CA 95116

•  Phone: +1 (408) 259-5000

•  Hours: 24 hr

•  Accepts Medi-Cal and Medicare (Accepted Insurance Plans)

•  El Camino Health–Mountain View hospital

•  El Camino Health website

•  3.2/ 5.0 stars. 473 Google reviews

•  Address: 2500 Grant Rd, Mountain View, 94040

•  Phone: +1 (650) 940-7000

•  Hours: 24 hr

•  Accepts Medi-Cal and Medicare (Accepted Insurance plans and instructions)

What's the difference between a medical center and a medical office?

1. Medical Center:

   - A medical center is typically a larger facility that offers a wide range of medical services, often including emergency care, specialist clinics, surgery departments, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, and sometimes even inpatient care.

   - Medical centers are usually staffed by a variety of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, specialists, technicians, and administrative staff.

   - They often have more resources and equipment compared to medical offices, allowing them to handle a broader spectrum of medical needs and emergencies.

   - Medical centers are usually open 24 hours a day, seven days a week

2. Medical Offices:

   -Medical offices are smaller, outpatient facilities that focus on providing primary care and specialty services on a scheduled basis.

   - They may offer services such as routine check-ups, vaccinations, consultations, minor procedures, and follow-up care for chronic conditions.

   - Medical offices might be run by individual physicians or small groups of healthcare providers.

   - Unlike medical centers, medical offices typically have limited hours of operation, often following regular business hours during the week and being closed on weekends or holidays.

Filing for retirement

You are eligible to file for retirement in the US if you have:

•  20 or more years credited service and is at least 50 years of age, or 10 or more years of credited service and is at least 60 years of age (

•  OR  for disability if you have 10 or more years of credited service as of his/her separation date and suffer from a condition the Retirement System considers as disabling.

•  Requirement: you must be substantially incapacitated from the performance of duty. This “substantial incapacity” must be due to a medical condition of permanent or extended and uncertain duration (lasting longer than 6 months).

How to file for retirement in San Francisco city/county

•    First: Log in to the secure member portal mySFERS to schedule an appointment with a Retirement Counselor using our online Retirement Appointment Scheduler.

•  Create a SFERS accounts here:  https://myapps.sfgov.org/ccsfportal/signinHelp

•  Note: Schedule your counseling session to take place within six months of your desired retirement date. (Counseling appointments last approximately two hours)

Prepare these things for your counseling appointment:

If you are filing for service retirement:

•  Picture ID

•  Original Certified Marriage/Domestic Partner Certificate

•  Spouse’s or Eligible Domestic Partner’s Date of Birth and SSN

•  Unmarried child or children (under 18) Date of Birth and SSN

If you are filing for disability retirement:

•  Picture ID

•  Original Certified Marriage/Domestic Partnership Certificate

•  Spouse’s or Eligible Domestic Partner’s Date of Birth and SSN

•  Unmarried child or children (under 18) Date of Birth and SSN

•  Completed Physicians Information Form

Are you eligible for the retirement income program in Santa Clara County?

The County of Santa Clara provides eligible employees with a Defined Benefit Pension Plan through CalPERS. This plan offers retirees a steady income after they leave County service.

Even though you and the County contribute to your retirement while you work, these contributions don’t determine your retirement income. Instead, your benefits are calculated using a formula* that considers factors like when you were hired, your job classification, how long you worked, and your age at retirement. If you are part of a union, any agreements with the County may also play a role.

Unlike a 401(k), which depends on how well investments perform, your pension benefits are based on these specific employment factors and are guaranteed by state law. This ensures you receive a reliable income for life in retirement.

To be eligible you must: be working as an employee in the public sector (for organizations like the County of Santa Clara, a city, a school district, etc.)

*If you are eligible–how does it work?

1. Service Credit: This is the total number of years you worked for the County. The more years you have, the higher your retirement benefits will be. For example, if you worked for 20 years, your service credit would be 20 years.

2. Benefit Factor: This is a percentage that determines how much of your salary you will receive for each year of service when you retire. It is influenced by your age at retirement and the specific rules for your job. For example, if your benefit factor is 2%@62, it means you will receive 2% of your average salary for each year you worked when you retire at age 62.

3. Average Final Compensation: This is the average salary you earned over a specific time period (usually the last few years of your career). This number helps to calculate your monthly benefits. For example, if your average salary during that time was $82,000, this figure will be used in the calculation to determine how much you receive each month in retirement.

Example Breakdown:

If you worked for 15 years, are 62 years old, and your benefit factor is 2%, here’s how it works:

•  Years of Service: 15 years

•  Benefit Factor: 2% for each year worked means you’ll get 2% x 15 years = 30% of your average final compensation.

•  Average Final Compensation: If your average salary is $82,000, then 30% of that would be $24,600 per year. To find your monthly income, you divide this by 12 months, which equals $2,050.

So, with these numbers, you would receive $2,050 every month for life when you retire.

Learn more about retirement benefits in Santa Clara county: https://esa.santaclaracounty.gov/county-retirees