Medicare’s Extra Help Program is a federal benefit that helps Medicare beneficiaries with limited income and resources pay for prescription drug coverage costs. This program assists with monthly premiums, annual deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance for Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.

To qualify for Extra Help, you must be enrolled in Medicare and meet specific income and resource limits. You must also live in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia. The Social Security Administration determines eligibility and estimates the program provides significant annual savings for qualifying beneficiaries.

Extra Help covers costs associated with Medicare prescription drug coverage, including premiums for standalone prescription drug plans and prescription drug coverage within Medicare Advantage plans. The program also helps reduce out-of-pocket costs for medications and eliminates the coverage gap.

You can use Extra Help with several Medicare plan types including standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage, and certain other Medicare health plans that provide prescription drug benefits.