Help with Medicare premiums
and prescription costs
If Medicare premiums or prescription costs strain your budget, assistance may be available. Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help serve different purposes. Eligibility depends on your circumstances; the responsible government agency makes the final decision.
Medicare Part B premium assistance
Your state administers Medicare Savings Programs through its Medicaid agency. These programs can help eligible people with limited income and resources pay their Medicare Part B premium. Depending on the program, assistance may also cover other Medicare costs.
- Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB): Helps with Part A premiums when applicable, Part B premiums, and Medicare-covered deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.
- Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB): Helps pay the Part B premium.
- Qualifying Individual (QI): Helps pay the Part B premium. Funding is limited, and applications must be renewed each year.
Income and resource rules vary by state and can change. Some states use more generous rules or do not count certain income or resources. Contact your state Medicaid agency to ask which programs you may qualify for and how to apply. Do not assume you are ineligible without checking.
Learn about Medicare Savings Programs at Medicare.gov.
SSA Extra Help for prescription drugs
Extra Help, also called the Low-Income Subsidy, helps eligible people with limited income and resources pay Medicare Part D prescription drug costs, including premiums, deductibles, and copayments. It applies to Medicare drug coverage and is separate from help with your Part B premium.
You generally qualify automatically if you have full Medicaid coverage, receive help paying your Part B premium through a Medicare Savings Program, or receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). If you do not qualify automatically, you can apply through the Social Security Administration (SSA). You can apply for Extra Help at any time during the year.
Eligibility and costs depend on current program rules and your situation. Extra Help does not mean every medication is covered by every plan. Review the plan’s covered drug list, pharmacy network, and any coverage requirements.
Learn about and apply for Extra Help through SSA · Read Medicare.gov guidance on help with drug costs.
Request guidance on your next step
Serving Our Seniors can help you understand these programs and where to seek application assistance. A Licensed Agent can discuss general coverage questions. Requesting help does not enroll you in insurance or guarantee approval for Medicaid, a Medicare Savings Program, or Extra Help.
Please do not send Social Security or Medicare numbers, medical information, income details, bank information, or documents through our contact form. Submit application information directly through the appropriate government agency’s secure process.
For free, independent Medicare counseling, visit your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). This page provides general educational information. Serving Our Seniors LLC is an independent insurance agency and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicaid, Medicare, SSA, or the U.S. government.