Medicare Extra Help (Part D Low-Income Subsidy)

Prescription drugs are one of the biggest worries for people on Medicare — but if your income is limited, Extra Help (officially the Part D Low-Income Subsidy, or LIS) can dramatically reduce what you pay. It's one of the most valuable and most under-used Medicare programs.

What Extra Help Covers

• Part D premium — lowered or reduced to $0
• Part D deductible — reduced or eliminated
• Drug copays — capped at roughly $12.65 per prescription for those with the full subsidy
• No coverage gap ("donut hole") — Extra Help removes it
• No late-enrollment penalty for Part D while you have it

It layers on top of the 2026 Part D protections everyone gets — the $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap and the $35/month insulin cap.

2026 Eligibility Limits

Extra Help is based on limited income and resources. For 2026, your countable resources (savings, investments — not your home or car) must generally be below:

• $16,590 for an individual
• $33,100 for a married couple living together

Income limits also apply, and they're higher than many people expect — it's worth checking even if you think you earn too much.

You May Already Qualify Automatically

If you have any of the following, you get Extra Help automatically — no separate application needed:

• Medicaid
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• A Medicare Savings Program (QMB, SLMB, or QI)

How to Apply

Apply for free through Social Security — online, by phone, or in person. There's never a fee. If you're a Uintah Basin resident, we can sit down and complete the application with you, and check whether a Medicare Savings Program would qualify you automatically. Not sure where to start? See the dual-eligible overview.