Extra Help is a Medicare program to help people with limited income and resources pay Medicare prescription drug costs. You may qualify for Extra Help if your yearly income and resources are below these limits in 2021:
- Single person - yearly income less than $19,320 (1,610 monthly) and less than $13,290 in other resources per year
- Married person living
with a spouse and no other dependents - yearly income less than $26,136 (2,178 monthly) and less than $26,520 in other resources per year
These amounts may change in 2022. You may qualify even if you have a higher income (like if you still work, live in Alaska or Hawaii, or have dependents living with you). Resources include money in a checking or savings account, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and Individual Retirement
Accounts (IRAs). Resources don’t include your
home, car, household items, burial plot, up to $1,500 for burial expenses (per person), or life insurance policies.
Having trouble paying your prescription drugs?
If you qualify for Extra Help and join a Medicare drug plan, you'll:
- Get help paying your Medicare drug plan's costs.
- Have no late enrollment penalty.
You automatically qualify for Extra Help if you have Medicare and meet any of these conditions:
- You have full Medicaid coverage.
- You get help from your state Medicaid program paying your Part B premiums (in a
Medicare Savings Program).
- You get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
Drug costs in 2019 for people who qualify for Extra Help will be no more than $3.40 for each generic drug and $8.50 for each brand-name drug.
If you don't automatically qualify for Extra Help, you can apply anytime:
- Call SHIIP toll-free at 1-855-408-1212 Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm and one of our Medicare counselors can assist
you.
- Visit socialsecurity.gov/i1020 to apply online.
- Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778.
Related Content
- If you have to choose between buying groceries or paying your Medicare costs... SHIIP may be
able to help.
- Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Cost
- Apply for Extra Help Online
|
|
- Home
- Introduction to Medicare
- Get Help
with Medicare Prescription Drug Costs
What is Extra Help?
Extra Help is a program offered by Medicare for people with low incomes and limited assets. This is also called Low Income Subsidy or LIS. But less 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, submit an application.
Do I qualify
for Extra Help?
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 $20,385 in annual income2/$15,510 in assets (if single).2
- Have less than $27,465 in annual income2/$30,950 in assets (if
married).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 (toll-free;
TTY/TDD users call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week
- Your State Medicaid Office
- The Social Security Administration toll-free 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.
Find a Plan
Call Us Meet with a Sales AgentMake an appointment with a licensed insurance agent/producer in your area
|
What is the income limit for extra help in Michigan?
It is also known as the Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS). If your monthly income is up to $1,719 in 2022 ($2,309 for couples) and your assets are below specified limits, you may be eligible for Extra Help (see the Extra Help income and asset limit chart for details).
What is the highest level of LIS?
The Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS/Extra Help) can save Medicare beneficiaries thousands of dollars on prescriptions each year. There are two levels of LIS/Extra Help, full and partial, whose eligibility criteria are contained in this chart.