Medicare Extra Help: Lower Drug Costs
If you have Medicare and a limited income, the Extra Help program can lower or eliminate your out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs — here's how to apply.
3 min read · 4 steps · Checked April 2026
Step 1. See if you qualify
In 2026, you may qualify for Extra Help if your monthly income is below about $1,903 (single) or $2,575 (married couple), and your savings and investments (excluding your home, one car, and personal belongings) are below about $17,220 (single) or $34,360 (couple). These limits change each year. The best way to get an exact determination is to apply — the application itself is free and there is no penalty for being denied. Medicare will check your income using Social Security and IRS records.
Quick Tip
Even if you think your income is slightly too high, apply anyway — the limits include deductions for certain expenses that may not be obvious, and some applicants are surprised to qualify.
Step 2. Apply online, by phone, or by mail
Online: go to ssa.gov/medicare/part-d/extra-help and click "Apply for Extra Help." Phone: call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778). Mail: request a paper application by calling the SSA. You will need your Social Security number, information about your monthly income (Social Security payments, pension, wages), and the value of your savings accounts, investments, and any real estate other than your primary home.
Step 3. What Extra Help covers
If approved for Full Extra Help: you pay no monthly premium for a qualifying drug plan, no deductible, and only a small copay ($1–$11 for most drugs in 2026). If approved for Partial Extra Help: you pay reduced premiums and a smaller deductible and copay than you would without help. You will be automatically enrolled in a drug plan that qualifies for Extra Help if you are approved. You can switch plans during open enrollment if you prefer a different one.
Step 4. Automatically qualify without applying
Some people are automatically eligible for Extra Help without applying: if you have Medicaid (the state health insurance for low-income people), you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or you live in a Medicare Savings Program. If you fall into one of these categories, you are already receiving Extra Help or will be enrolled automatically when you enroll in Medicare Part D. If you are not sure, call your State Health Insurance Help Program (SHIP) — find your state's number at shiphelp.org — for free, unbiased advice.
Extra Help (also called the Low Income Subsidy or LIS) is a Medicare program that helps people with limited income and resources pay for their prescription drug costs under Medicare Part D. In 2026, qualifying for Extra Help can save you an average of $5,900 per year on prescription drug costs. About 13 million people qualify, but millions more are eligible and not enrolled. Eligibility is based on income and savings, not on age alone.
Official sources
- Medicare.gov — medicare.gov
- SSA.gov — ssa.gov
- IRS.gov — irs.gov
- USA.gov — usa.gov
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