What's Extra Help? A Medicare Program To Help People With Limited Income And Resources

Who gets Extra Help automatically?
You'll get Extra Help automatically if you get:

• Full Medicaid Coverage
• Help from your state paying your Part B Premiums (from a Medicare Savings Program)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits from Social Security

You'll get a letter about your Extra Help. It tells you things like how much you'll pay, and your new Medicare Drug Plan, if you don't have one already.

The Medicare Prescription Drug Program gives you a choice of Prescription Plans that offer various types of coverage. You may be able to get Extra Help to pay for the Monthly Premiums, Annual Deductibles, and co-payments related to the Medicare Prescription Drug Program. However, you must be enrolled in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to get this Extra Help.

You should complete the application for Extra Help on the Internet if:

• You have Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and/or Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance); and
• You live in one of the 50 States or the District of Columbia; and
• Your combined savings, investments, and real estate are not worth more than $34,360, if you are married and living with your spouse, or $17,220 if you are not currently married or not living with your spouse. (Do NOT count your home, vehicles, personal possessions, Life Insurance, burial plots, irrevocable burial contracts or back payments from Social Security or SSI.) If you have more than those amounts, you may not qualify for the Extra Help. However, you can still enroll in an approved Medicare Prescription Drug Plan for coverage.

EXCEPTION: Even if you meet these conditions, DO NOT complete this application if you have Medicare and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicare and Medicaid because you automatically will get the Extra Help.

How Can You Get Extra Help?

To get Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs, you must complete and submit the application. Medicare will review your application and send you a letter to let you know if you qualify for Extra Help.

If you need help completing this application, call Social Security Toll-Free at: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

You also may be able to get help from your State with other Medicare costs under the Medicare Savings Programs. By completing this form, you will start your application process for a Medicare Savings Program. We will send information to your State who will contact you to help you apply for a Medicare Savings Program unless you tell us not to when you complete this application.

If you need information about Medicare Savings Programs, Medicare Prescription Drug Plans or how to enroll in a plan, call: 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048). Or visit: https://www.medicare.gov/ - You also can request information about how to contact your State Health Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (SHIP). The SHIP offers help with your Medicare questions.

To apply, you must live in one of the 50 States or the District of Columbia. If you don’t automatically get Extra Help, you can apply for it at: https://secure.ssa.gov/i1020/start