PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) in Sacramento, California

The service area is a ZIP list, not the city

PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) is a Medicare and Medicaid program, not a facility. One organization takes over medical care, day center, transportation, meals, therapy, and in-home help for people 55 and older who need a nursing-home level of care but can still live safely at home with support. Each organization is approved for a fixed set of ZIP codes, so where you live decides which program you can join, not which city is on the sign.

Sutter SeniorCare PACE, listed above, is the Sacramento County organization in our data. Its service area covers much of the county, which is why families in Elk Grove, Citrus Heights and other nearby cities are usually asking about the same program. The organization confirms eligibility by ZIP code when you call, and Medicare's PACE finder does the same by address.

What it costs in practice

If you have Medi-Cal, or both Medicare and Medi-Cal, you pay no monthly premium for the long-term care part of PACE and no copay for any service the care team approves. If you have Medicare only, the organization charges a monthly premium for the long-term care part plus a Part D drug premium, and each program sets its own rate. Ask for the private-pay figure in writing before you enroll.

PACE replaces your Medicare Advantage plan or Original Medicare coverage while you are enrolled. You use the program's doctors and specialists, and the program pays for hospital and nursing-home care it approves. Enrollment is month to month and you can leave at any time; coverage then returns to regular Medicare and Medi-Cal.

Who qualifies in Sacramento County

The rules are set by federal and state law: 55 or older, live in the service area, certified by California as needing a nursing-home level of care, and able to live safely in the community with PACE support at enrollment. The state does the level-of-care assessment, and the organization's intake team walks you through it. Most people who qualify are on Medi-Cal, but Medi-Cal is not required.