Get Extra Help Paying Your Medicare Drug Costs
Extra Help is a Medicare program to help people with limited income and resources pay for their Medicare prescription drug coverage, such as plan premiums, deductibles, copays or coinsurance. Additionally, those who qualify will not have a coverage gap or late enrollment penalty.
Depending on your income level, you may pay less or pay nothing for your plan premium and yearly deductible. In 2021, drug costs are no more than:
- $3.70 for each generic drug
- $9.20 for each brand-name covered
These amounts may change in 2022.
Do I qualify for Extra Help?
In 2021, you may qualify if you have up to $19,320 in yearly income ($26,130 for a married couple) and up to $14,790 in resources ($29,520 for a married couple). These amounts may change in 2022.
To see if you qualify, call:
- Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY users call 1-800-325-0778).
- Your state Medicaid office.
View valid evidence of low-income eligibility (Best Available Evidence, BAE).
Get more information on Best Available Evidence (BAE) from Medicare.
