Prescription drug assistance · federal
Medicare Part D Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy)
Social Security Administration
Extra Help, also called the Part D Low-Income Subsidy, lowers what a Medicare beneficiary pays for prescription drug coverage. It can cover the Part D premium, the deductible, and the per-prescription copays, and it removes the Part D late-enrollment penalty and opens a special enrollment window to change plans. Recent federal changes folded the old partial subsidy into the full subsidy, so most people who qualify now receive the full benefit. People already enrolled in Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, or a Medicare Savings Program are deemed automatically eligible and do not need to file a separate Extra Help application.
Who qualifies
You must have Medicare. Income must be at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level, roughly $1,995 a month for one person in 2026. Countable resources must be at or below $16,590 for one person or $33,100 for a married couple living together in 2026, figures that include a $1,500 per person allowance for burial expenses. Your home, one vehicle, and personal belongings do not count. Anyone enrolled in Medicaid, SSI, or a Medicare Savings Program qualifies automatically.
What it covers
Pays some or all of the Part D premium and deductible, caps copays at low fixed amounts, removes the Part D late-enrollment penalty, and grants a special enrollment period to switch drug plans. SSA estimates the benefit is worth about $5,700 per year.
Cost
Free to apply and free to receive. The benefit reduces what you pay for Part D, it does not cost anything.
How to apply
Apply online with the Social Security Administration, by phone, or in person at a local Social Security office. Free one-on-one help is available from SHIBA, Washington's volunteer Medicare counseling program. People on Medicaid, SSI, or a Medicare Savings Program are enrolled automatically and do not need to apply.