Need extra help paying for medicare prescription drug coverage?

You may qualify for "extra help" (the low-income subsidy) from Medicare to pay prescription drug costs if you have a yearly income (in 2008) below $15,600 ($23,970 for a married person living with a spouse and no other dependents) and resources (in 2008) less than $11,990 ($23,970 for a married person living with a spouse and no other dependents). Amounts will change in early 2008.

If you qualify for extra help in 2009, you will get the following:

• Help paying your Medicare drug plan's monthly premium. Depending on your income and resources and your plan's premium, you may pay a reduced premium or no premium for a basic plan. For an enhanced plan, you must pay a portion of the premium for extra coverage.
   
• Help paying any yearly deductible.
   
• Help paying prescription coinsurance and co-payments.
   
• No coverage gap.

You automatically qualify for extra help if you have Medicare and meet one of these conditions:

• You have full Medicaid benefits.
   
• You get help from your state Medicaid program paying your Part B premiums (you belong to a Medicare Savings Program).
   
• You get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits without Medicaid.

If you didn't automatically qualify for extra help, you can still apply.

Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to apply by phone or get a paper application. TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778. Visit www.socialsecurity.gov on the web to apply online.

Apply at your State Medical Assistance (Medicaid) office. To get answers to your questions about extra help paying for your prescription drug costs, call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
 

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