An elderly female hand holds a mock United States government Medicare Health Insurance card.

Extra Help for Part D

Extra Help (Low Income Subsidy) is a program that can help lower your costs for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. The Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP) can help you apply. Check out HICAP’s counseling appointments site for more information.

You can also apply directly through Social Security: ssa.gov/medicare/prescriptionhelp

Extra Help recipients will receive the following benefits:

  • Reduced or no monthly insurance premiums for plans
  • No annual deductible, in most cases
  • Reduced prescription copayments
  • Ability to change Prescription Drug or Medicare Advantage Plans once a quarter in the first 3 quarters of the year
  • If you qualify for Extra Help in July or after, it will be good for the rest of that year and the following year.

Extra Help qualifying income limit for single is $1,956, and asset limit is $17,600

Extra Help qualifying income limit for a couple is $2,643, andthe  asset limit is $35,130

This project was supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $117,760 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.