Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Costs

What is Medicare Extra Help?

Extra Help is a program offered by Medicare for people with low incomes and limited assets. This is also called Part D Low Income Subsidy or LIS. But fewer than half of the people eligible for Extra Help sign up. So if you need help paying Part D premiums, deductibles and copays and think you might qualify (see qualifications below), submit an application.

Do I qualify for Medicare Extra Help?

To figure out if you qualify for Extra Help, you will need to list your income and resources. Income is how much money you (and, if you’re married, your spouse) receive each calendar year. Resources includes financial assets such as cash, checking or savings accounts, certificates of deposit, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or individual retirement accounts.

If you get full Medicaid coverage, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits from Social Security, or help from your state paying your Part B premiums (from a Medicare Savings Program), you qualify for Extra Help and may receive it automatically.

If you don’t receive Extra Help automatically, you can still apply for it .

To be eligible for help with drug costs, you must:

Live in the United States or District of Columbia.¹
Qualify for Medicare Part A and/or be enrolled in Medicare Part B.
Have less than $22,590 in annual income²/$17,220 in resources (if single) in 2024.²
Have less than $30,660 in annual income²/$34,360 in resources (if married) in 2024.²

Learn more about income and resource levels, counting your assets and how to apply for Extra Help here.

¹Programs may vary if you live in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa or the Northern Mariana Islands. Income amounts will vary for Hawaii and Alaska.

²Even if you have more or less than these amounts, you might still qualify for Extra Help and the amounts may change each year. The resource limits include $1,500 per person for burial expenses.

If you aren't getting Extra Help, find out if you qualify by calling:

1-800-Medicare (TTY/TDD users call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week
Your State Medicaid Office
The Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213. TTY/TDD users should call 1-800-325-0778 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Get more information about qualifying for Extra Help

Video Transcript (PDF) (97.19 KB)

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