Provider Benefits

To qualify for benefits a provider must be paid by Santa Clara IHSS for at least 35 hours per month for the two most recent months and submit a completed benefits enrollment form to the Council on Aging Public Authority Services. Call (408) 350-3290 to get an application form.

Benefits available for eligible IHSS Independent Providers include:

Medical Insurance
from Valley Health Plan
The provider is responsible to pay $25 per month for this. This amount is usually deducted from the paycheck.
Contact Valley Health Plan Member Services at 408-885-4760 (or 1-888-421-8444) if you have questions about the medical plan.

Dental Insurance
from Liberty Dental
Use only Plan LR1 contracted dentists from Liberty. Co-Payment Schedule is LDP1/LR-1.
Contact Liberty Dental Plan Member Services at 1-888-703-6999 if you have questions about the dental plan.

Vision Care Insurance
from Vision Services Plan
Contact Vision Service Plan Member Services at 1-800-877-7195 if you have questions about the vision plan.

FREE bus pass for IHSS Independent Providers!
Every working IHSS Provider in Santa Clara County can have a FREE EcoPass. This pass allows travel on all the VTA buses, Express buses and light rail trains operated by the Valley Transit Authority in Santa Clara County. Independent Providers who qualify should call 408-350-3290 for more information on how to obtain an EcoPass.

Credit Union
Santa Clara County Federal Credit Union
IHSS Homecare Providers are also eligible to join the Santa Clara County Federal Credit Union. For more information and branch locations, providers should contact the Credit Union directly at: 408-282-0700 or www.sccfcu.org

Every month providers lose their health insurance for reasons that can be prevented:

Providers must be paid for 35 hours each month. It is very important to submit your timesheets on time. Call IHSS at (408) 975-4899 if you are not up to date with your timesheets and paychecks. The Council on Aging Public Authority Services will send the provider a letter if he/she is at risk of losing insurance benefits due to low hours paid. The Council on Aging Public Authority Services can only use payroll records to evaluate eligibility so getting paid on time is important.

Insurance does not stop right away when the provider stops working:

If the provider stops working or the paid hours drops below 35/month for any reason he/she will not lose insurance coverage right away. It will continue for at least one month and the Council on Aging Public Authority Services will notify him/her by letter explaining when the insurance will stop. The provider is responsible to pay the $25 per month portion of the insurance premium until the insurance stops. Call the Council on Aging Public Authority Services Benefits Department at (408) 350-3290 for questions or more information.