Medicare Extra Help

Extra Help is a program to help people with limited income and resources pay for Medicare prescription drug program costs.

Extra Help may help lower your out-of-pocket prescription drug costs such as premiums, copays or coinsurance. It also covers you throughout the coverage gap phase and waives any Part D late enrollment penalty.

If you qualify for Extra Help and you join or currently have coverage with a Medicare prescription drug program, you will:

• Get help paying your Medicare drug plan’s costs
• Have no Part D late enrollment penalty
• Still have coverage if you reach the coverage gap phase (also called the "donut hole")

Starting in 2024, Extra Help benefits will be offered to those with Medicare prescription drug coverage who qualify, based on both:
 

• Limited resources
• Incomes up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level

If you qualify, Extra Help benefits include:

• $0 or reduced Medicare drug plan premium
• $0 annual Medicare drug plan deductible
• A reduced amount for covered generic and brand-name drugs

Keep in mind: Extra Help only covers prescription drug costs.

You may qualify for Extra Help if your income is limited to $22,590 for an individual ($30,660 for a married couple living together), and your resources are limited to $17,220 for an individual ($34,360 for a married couple living together). 
 

These amounts are for 2024. They may change in 2025. If your income and resources are slightly higher, you should still apply. We will post any changes to these amounts once the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) publishes them. Please check back in January 2025 for updates.

For more information about qualifying, call or visit the:

• Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778), Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 7 PM.
• Social Security Administration website

There are multiple ways to apply for Extra Help. Here are three ways to start:

• If you’re an Allina Health | Aetna Medicare member, you can get help with your application by contacting BeneLynk. They’re available Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 8 PM local time. Call 1-888-715-0098 ${tty}.
• Apply online at Social Security Administration website.
• Apply by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778), Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM.