What Extra Help Is
Extra Help (also called the Low Income Subsidy or LIS) is a federal program that helps Medicare beneficiaries with low incomes pay for Medicare Part D prescription drug costs. It is one of the most valuable but least-utilized Medicare benefits — Extra Help can reduce annual Part D drug costs by $5,000 or more for people with significant prescription needs. The program is administered through Social Security but funded through Medicare.
What Extra Help Pays
Full Extra Help (income at or below 135% FPL): $0 monthly Part D premium (or very low); $0 annual deductible; copays of $4.50 for generics and $11.20 for brand-name drugs in 2026; no coverage gap. This provides free or near-free prescription coverage regardless of how many medications you take.
Partial Extra Help (income 135–150% FPL): Reduced premium, reduced deductible, and reduced copays. Still significantly lowers drug costs compared to standard Part D cost-sharing.
Who Qualifies — 150% FPL
Income limit: 150% FPL. For 2026: individual = $22,590/year ($1,883/month); couple = $30,630/year ($2,553/month). Asset limit: $17,910 (individual) / $35,730 (couple) in 2026, with the same key exclusions as MSPs (home, car, burial fund, life insurance). Important: asset limits for Extra Help are being phased out under the Inflation Reduction Act — this will expand eligibility further as that provision takes effect.
Automatic Enrollment
You are automatically enrolled in Full Extra Help if you: receive SSI, have full Medicaid, or are enrolled in a Medicare Savings Program (QMB, SLMB, or QI). No application is needed — Social Security automatically applies the benefit. You'll receive a notice from Social Security confirming your Extra Help status. If you think you should have been automatically enrolled but weren't, call SSA at 1-800-772-1213.
How to Apply
Apply through Social Security: online at ssa.gov/i1020, by calling 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local SSA office. The application takes about 30 minutes. You'll need income and asset information. Processing takes 2–4 weeks. Extra Help is retroactive to the application month for Part D costs incurred after enrollment.
Extra Help + MSP Together
Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs are complementary and powerful together — MSPs reduce or eliminate Part A/B premiums and cost-sharing; Extra Help eliminates Part D costs. Together they can reduce total annual Medicare costs from $2,000–$6,000+ to near zero. Apply for both. See Medicare Savings Programs for the MSP application guide.
Which Prescriptions Are Covered
Extra Help covers all drugs on your Part D plan's formulary at the reduced Extra Help copay levels ($4.50 generic / $11.20 brand in 2026). If your drug isn't on the formulary, your plan may cover it through a formulary exception process. Use Medicare's Plan Finder at medicare.gov/plan-compare to compare Part D plans and identify the plan with the best formulary coverage for your specific prescriptions — then apply Extra Help to that plan.