Are You Eligible For Extra Help?

If you have Medicare and are finding it difficult to pay your Medicare premiums, deductibles, and copayments, you may be eligible for “Extra Help” to cover these costs. Below is information from the official Medicare.gov website. If you think you are eligible for this important benefit, or if you have questions about the benefit, call the CHOICES program at the Agency on Aging of South Central CT, 203 785-8533 and leave a message for a CHOICES counselor to call you back.

“Extra Help" is a Medicare program to help people with limited income and resources pay Medicare drug coverage (Part D); premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other costs. 

Some people qualify for Extra Help automatically, and others must apply. You can apply by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778. You can also contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to get free help applying. In CT, the SHIP program is named CHOICES: 800 994 9422.

You can apply for Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) at the same time. These state programs provide help with other Medicare costs. Social Security will send information to your state to initiate an MSP application unless you tell them not to on the Extra Help application. Learn more about Medicare Savings Programs.

• If you meet the income and resource limits for next year, you will keep getting Extra Help unless your financial situation changes.

Coverage

• Plan premium: $0
• Plan deductible: $0
• Prescriptions:
• Up to $4.50 for each generic drug
• Up to $11.20 for each brand-name drug

Once your total drug costs (including certain payments made on your behalf, like through the Extra Help program) reach $8,000, you will pay $0 for each covered drug.