Several programs offer help to pay for medicare costs

6 STEPS TO APPLY FOR PART D EXTRA HELP 1. Gather the following documents: * Bank statements and tax returns. * IRA or 401(k) account balances. * Statements for annuities, pensions, Railroad

Retirement Board benefits or veterans’ benefits. Go to the Apply for Medicare Part D Extra Help program page at SocialSecurity.gov. 2. Click APPLY ONLINE. You’ll see the Extra Help welcome

page. Click FIND OUT IF YOU QUALIFY for more information about eligibility criteria. When you’re ready to apply, click APPLY NOW. 3. Read the information on the next screen that explains how

to complete the online application. When you’re done, click NEXT. 4. Answer the series of personal questions. Click NEXT. 5. Your answers to the previous questions are early steps in

determining your eligibility for the program. If you qualify so far, you’ll be asked to apply. Click APPLY NOW. 6. Enter your name, Social Security number, date of birth and whether you

worked this year and last year. You’ll be asked if your spouse is applying for Extra Help, too. You’ll then be asked about your income and assets, which will help determine if you’re

eligible for the program.   If you need help completing the application, contact Social Security at 800-772-1213 or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program. The Social Security

Administration provides instructions in several languages for filling out the application. You can review your completed application before you submit it. Medicare will send you a notice

identifying your level of Extra Help assistance. You may get full or partial assistance depending on your income and assets and whether you have Medicaid coverage or receive aid from a

Medicare Savings Program. Once you’ve enrolled in Extra Help, Medicare will notify your Part D plan. If you fill a prescription and the credit isn’t applied, show the pharmacist the Medicare

approval letter. MORE PEOPLE QUALIFY IN 2024 The income limits to qualify for full Extra Help increased in 2024, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. In the past, people who earned from

135 percent to 150 percent of the federal poverty level were eligibile for partial Extra Help with a lower level of assistance. In 2024, the income threshold for full Extra Help increased to

150 percent of the federal poverty level and partial Extra Help was eliminated. If you don’t qualify for Extra Help or want to supplement its benefits, you may be eligible for a state 

pharmaceutical assistance program (SPAP) that can help with your prescription costs. Each program works differently. To find out more about the assistance program in your state, you can call

800-MEDICARE or contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Video: Is Financial Assistance Available for Medicare? _This story, originally published Jan. 28, 2022, was updated

with the new eligibility numbers and changes to Extra Help in 2024._