Extra Help is a Medicare program to help people with limited income and resources pay Medicare prescription drug costs.
Having trouble paying your prescription drugs?
If you qualify for Extra Help and join a Medicare drug plan, you'll:
- Get help paying your Medicare drug plan's costs.
- Have no late enrollment penalty.
You automatically qualify for Extra Help if you have Medicare and meet any of these conditions:
- You have full Medicaid coverage.
- You get help from your state Medicaid program paying your Part B premiums (in a Medicare Savings Program).
- You get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
Drug costs in 2019 for people who qualify for Extra Help will be no more than $3.40 for each generic drug and $8.50 for each brand-name drug.
If you don't automatically qualify for Extra Help, you can apply anytime:
- Call SHIIP toll-free at 1-855-408-1212 Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm and one of our Medicare counselors can assist you.
- Visit socialsecurity.gov/i1020 to apply online.
- Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778.
