If you do not have Medicaid Medicaid is a federal and state program that provides health coverage for certain people with limited income and assets. , Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Supplemental Security Income is a monthly benefit for people with limited incomes and assets who are 65 or older, blind, or have a disability. , or a Medicare Savings Program (MSP) Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs), also known as Medicare Buy-In programs, help pay your Medicare costs if you have limited income and savings. There are three main MSPs, each with different benefits and eligibility limits: Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB), and Qualifying Individual (QI) program. The Qualified Disabled Working Individual (QDWI) program is a less common MSP for people who are under 65, have a disabling impairment, and continue to work. , you can apply for the Extra Help program through the using either the agency’s print or online application. (If you have Medicaid, SSI, or an MSP, you should be automatically enrolled in Extra Help.) To apply online, visit www.ssa.gov. Depending on processes in your state, this application can also serve to screen you for a Medicare Savings Program, which helps pay your Medicare costs. Be sure to complete the entire application and provide accurate information so you get all the benefits for which you qualify.
Remember, Extra Help reduces your prescription drug costs only for drugs covered by your Part D plan. If you do not have a Part D plan but are eligible for Extra Help, you can use the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to enroll in Part D drug coverage.
If your application for Extra Help is denied, you can appeal to SSA. Your will have the opportunity to submit information about why you qualify when you appeal.