What is Extra Help?

What is Part D Extra help?

Anyone who has Medicare can get Medicare prescription drug coverage. Eligible beneficiaries who have limited income and/or assets may qualify for a government program that helps pay for Medicare Part D Prescription drug costs. This is called Extra Help. Medicare beneficiaries receiving the low-income subsidy (LIS) get assistance in paying for their Part D monthly premium, annual deductible, coinsurance, and copayments. Also, individuals enrolled in the Extra Help program do not have a gap in prescription drug coverage, also known as the coverage gap, or the Medicare "donut hole." The amount of subsidy depends on the individual's income compared to the Federal Poverty Level and resource limitations set by the Social Security Act.

The Extra Help is estimated to be worth about $4,000 per year. Many people qualify for these important savings and don’t even know it. To find out if you qualify, Social Security will need to know the value of your savings, investments, real estate (other than your home), and your income. They will need information about you and your spouse, if you are married and living together. To help Social Security determine if you are eligible for Extra Help, you will need to file an Application for Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs.

Our agents can help you enroll in Extra Help. If you would like to enroll on your own, you will need to file an application for Extra Help through Social Security.