Could You Qualify for Extra Help with Medicare Costs?
Millions of Medicare beneficiaries qualify for Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy) but don't know it. This program can save you $5,000 or more per year on prescription drug costs.
Check Your Extra Help Eligibility
Answer a few questions to see if you may qualify for Extra Help in 2026.
Include Social Security, pensions, wages, and other income before taxes.
Bank accounts, stocks, bonds, CDs, and retirement savings. Exclude your home, one car, burial plots, and life insurance up to $1,500.
What Doesn't Count as Assets
Many people overestimate their countable resources because they include things that Social Security excludes. When calculating your assets for Extra Help eligibility, you do not need to count the items listed here.
Only count savings in bank accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CDs, and similar financial assets. If you're unsure, we can help you figure out exactly what counts.
Excluded from the Asset Calculation
Important: This Is a Screening Tool
This calculator provides an estimate only and is not a formal determination of eligibility. The Social Security Administration makes the official decision on Extra Help applications. Income and asset thresholds are based on 2026 federal poverty guidelines and may change. We can help you apply for a formal determination at no cost.
Extra Help Questions
Extra Help (also called the Low-Income Subsidy or LIS) is a federal program that helps Medicare beneficiaries with limited income and resources pay for Medicare Part D prescription drug costs. It can cover premiums, deductibles, and copayments — potentially saving you $5,000 or more per year. The program is administered by the Social Security Administration.
You can apply for Extra Help in several ways: online at socialsecurity.gov, by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, by visiting your local Social Security office, or by contacting us and we'll walk you through the entire application process at no cost. The application asks about your income, resources, and living situation. There is no application fee.
No. Receiving Extra Help does not reduce or affect your Social Security retirement benefits, Medicare coverage, or other federal benefits. It is purely an additional subsidy to help cover prescription drug costs. Qualifying for Extra Help can also give you a Special Enrollment Period to switch Part D plans at any time.
Need Help Applying? We'll Walk You Through It — Free
Our team can help you gather the right documents, complete the application, and submit it to Social Security — all at no cost to you.