What Is Extra Help and How Do I Apply for It? (2026)

Extra Help, also called the Part D Low-Income Subsidy, is a federal program that cuts Medicare prescription drug costs to a $0 premium, $0 deductible, and small copays, a benefit worth roughly $5,700 a year. In 2026 the income limits are about $23,940 for a single person and $32,460 for a married couple, with countable resources under $18,090 or $36,100. You apply free through Social Security, and your home and one car never count.

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What is Extra Help on Medicare?

Extra Help is a federal program, run by the Social Security Administration, that lowers what you pay for Medicare Part D prescription drugs. It brings your drug-plan premium and deductible to $0 and caps your copays at small fixed amounts. It is also called the Part D Low-Income Subsidy, or LIS, and the two names mean the same thing.

It exists because prescription costs are where Medicare's out-of-pocket burden hits low- and moderate-income people hardest. Extra Help is not a separate insurance plan, it attaches to whatever Part D or Medicare Advantage drug plan you already have. The Social Security Administration administers it, and there is never a fee to apply.

How much is Extra Help worth in 2026?

Extra Help is worth roughly $5,700 a year for a typical enrollee. It sets your Part D premium and deductible to $0 and limits copays to a few dollars per prescription, even on brand-name drugs. It also removes the late-enrollment penalty for Part D and gives you a special enrollment period to change drug plans if a better one appears.

The dollar value depends on how many medications you take, but the structure is the same for everyone who qualifies: no premium, no deductible, and capped copays. For someone on several brand-name drugs, the real-world savings can exceed the $5,700 average by a wide margin. Details on the 2026 figures are published by Medicare.

What are the 2026 income and resource limits?

In 2026, Extra Help income limits are about $23,940 a year for a single person and $32,460 for a married couple living together. Countable resources, things like bank and investment accounts, must be under roughly $18,090 for a single person or $36,100 for a couple. Your home, one car, and personal belongings do not count.

These figures come from the federal poverty guidelines and are updated annually by the Social Security Administration. Because some income is disregarded in the calculation, the effective limit is a bit higher than the raw number, which is exactly why it pays to apply even if you look slightly over. The NCOA 2026 eligibility chart lays out the current thresholds.

What counts, and what doesn't, toward the limits?

Countable resources are liquid assets: checking and savings accounts, stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. What does not count is your primary home, one vehicle, household goods, personal belongings, life insurance, and burial funds up to a set amount. On the income side, wages and Social Security count, but certain amounts are excluded before the limit is applied.

The exclusions are why so many people who assume they earn or own too much actually qualify. A paid-off house and a car do not push you over, and neither do your furniture and possessions. If your countable savings are close to the limit, apply, the worst outcome is a "no," which costs nothing and changes nothing about your current coverage.

How do I apply for Extra Help?

Apply free through the Social Security Administration online, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at a local office. The application is short and asks about your income and resources. You can complete it yourself, or a free SHIP counselor can help. If you qualify for a Medicare Savings Program, you are enrolled in Extra Help automatically.

That last point is the shortcut many people miss: qualifying for a Medicare Savings Program triggers automatic Extra Help enrollment, so one path can unlock both. If you apply for Extra Help directly, keep the confirmation, and note that Social Security may ask for documentation of income and resources to finish the review.

What if I'm turned down or my income is close?

A denial is not the end. You can appeal Social Security's decision, and you can reapply if your income or resources change. If you were close, check whether a Medicare Savings Program uses different limits in your state, several states have raised income thresholds or dropped the asset test, qualifying you when Extra Help does not.

Circumstances change, and so does eligibility. A drop in income, a spouse's death, or moving to a state with no asset test can all open the door. If you were denied on resources, remember that 13 states plus D.C. ignore assets entirely for the Savings Programs, which then feed you back into Extra Help automatically.