You can obtain prescription drug coverage if you are currently enrolled in the Medicare program. Individuals with limited resources, including income, may also qualify for Extra Assistance to cover the expenses of a Medicare prescription medication coverage. Monthly premiums, pharmaceutical co-payments, and annual deductibles are all examples of this. Extra Help is valued at approximately $4,900 per year. You may be eligible for these savings and be completely unaware of it. To be eligible for Extra Assistance with prescription drug costs, you must meet the following criteria:
- You must be a resident of one of the 50 United States of America or the District of Columbia.
- Your financial resources must be limited to $14,100 for an individual and $28,150 for a married pair cohabiting. Bank accounts, equities, and bonds are all examples of resources. They do not consider your residence, automobile, or any life insurance policy to be resources.
- Individuals must earn no more than $18,210 per year; married couples must earn no more than $24,690 per year. Even if your annual income is larger, you may still qualify for assistance. You may have a greater income yet still qualify for Extra Help if you or your spouse support other family members who live with you, earn money through work, or live in Hawaii or Alaska.
How can I apply for Additional Assistance?
You may submit an application at your local office. Utilize our Social Security office locator to locate one near you. After you apply, Social Security will analyze it and give you a letter indicating whether you qualify for Extra Help. Once you meet the eligibility requirements, you can enroll in a Medicare prescription medication plan. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will choose a plan for you if you do not. The sooner you become a member of a plan, the sooner you will begin receiving benefits. If Extra Help is ruled to be ineligible, you may still be able to enroll in a Medicare prescription medication plan.
Penalty for Medicare Prescription Drug Plans
If you do not enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan when you first become eligible, you may be subject to a late enrollment penalty if you subsequently join. You will be responsible for this penalty for the duration of your Medicare prescription drug coverage. However, if you receive Extra Help or another eligible prescription medication plan, you will not be penalized.
Please note that the late enrollment penalty for the Medicare prescription drug plan is distinct from the late enrollment penalty for Medicare Part B. If you do not enroll in Part B when you first become eligible, you may be subject to a late enrollment penalty for the duration of your Part B coverage. Additionally, you may be required to wait to enroll, delaying your Part B coverage.
Why should I submit an online application for Extra Help?
Their online application is safe and secure, and it comes with a number of benefits. It guides you step by step through the process via a series of self-help windows. The screens will notify you of the information required to complete the application and will help you through the process of answering all questions completely. You may submit an application from any computer. You can start and stop the procedure at any point during it, allowing you to exit the application and return later to amend or complete any essential information. They take great care to safeguard your personal information.
Are state agencies able to assist me with my Medicare costs?
When you submit an application for Extra Help, you can also begin the process of applying for Medicare Savings Programs. These state initiatives assist with additional Medicare expenditures. Unless you indicate otherwise on the Extra Help application, Social Security will transmit information to your state. Your state will contact you to assist you in submitting an application for the Medicare Savings Program.
These Medicare Savings Programs assist those with limited financial resources and income in paying for Medicare charges. The Medicare Savings Programs assist you in paying for the premiums for Medicare Part B (medical insurance). For some individuals, the Medicare Savings Programs may also cover their Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) premiums, if applicable, as well as their Part A and B deductibles and co-payments.
Medicaid, or medical assistance, is a combined federal-state program that assists some persons with limited means and income with paying for medical expenses. Each state has its own set of rules regarding Medicaid eligibility and application. For further information, contact the Medicaid office in your state.