Medicare Extra Help and What You Need to Know

Do you have limited income and resources?  You may qualify for the Medicare Extra Help program to cover some of your prescription drug and other Medicare costs, like deductibles, coinsurance, and co-payments!  This can be a lifesaver for those living on month-to-month income and that have high out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions and health care.  For example, with Extra Help, a prescription costing $60 may be lowered down to around $3!  Imagine the savings per month that can be used for doctor appointments, groceries, and other monthly costs!  Extra Help is something that should absolutely be looked into if you can qualify.

Important:  Extra Help isn’t available in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa.  For more information, see page 102 in the 2018_Medicare_and_You book about programs that are available in those areas.

How to Qualify for Medicare Extra Help

You may qualify for Extra Help to save on your Medicare Part D monthly premiums and drug costs, if your yearly income and resources are below these limits in 2017:

■ Single person—income less than $18,090 and resources less than $13,820 per year

■ Married person living with a spouse and no other dependents— income less than $24,360 and resources less than $27,600 per year

You may qualify for Medicare Savings extra help to save on Medicare Part A and Part B costs, like deductibles, coinsurance, and co-payments, if your yearly income and resources are below these limits in 2018:

Individual monthly income limit

$1,032

Married couple monthly income limit

$1,392

Individual resource limit

$7,560

Married couple resource limit

$11,340

Program helps pay for:

• Part A premiums
• Part B premiums
• Deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments

Individual monthly income limit

$1,234

Married couple monthly income limit

$1,666

Individual resource limit

$7,560

Married couple resource limit

$11,340

Program helps pay for:

Part B premiums only

Individual monthly income limit*

$1,386

Married couple monthly income limit*

$1,872

Individual resource limit

$7,560

Married couple resource limit

$11,340

Program helps pay for:

Part B premiums only

These amounts can change from year to year.  Resources include money in a checking or savings account, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs).  Resources don’t include your home, car, household items, burial plot, up to $1,500 for burial expenses (per person), or life insurance policies.

To see about the current year’s limits on income and resources and to see if you qualify, you may contact Medicare or even us at Lifelong directly at  888-901-4870.  We’ll be more than happy to answer any questions you have, as well as address any concerns you may have- to be sure you’re entirely informed!  We’re here for YOU and our services are always free.

Automatic Qualification or Enrollment

You automatically qualify for Medicare Extra Help if you have Medicare and meet any of these conditions:

■ Have full Medicaid coverage.

■ Receive help from your state Medicaid program paying your Part B premiums (in a Medicare Savings Program).  See pages 99–100 in the 2018 Medicare and You booklet for this information.

■ You get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

To let you know you automatically qualify for Extra Help, Medicare will mail you a purple letter that you should keep for your records.  You don’t need to apply for Extra Help if you get this letter.

■ You must join a Medicare drug plan if you don’t have one to use Extra Help.

■ If you don’t join a Medicare drug plan, Medicare may enroll you in one so that you’ll be able to use Extra Help.  If Medicare enrolls you in a plan, you’ll get a yellow or green letter letting you know when your coverage begins.

■ Different plans cover different drugs.  Check to see if the plan you’re enrolled in covers the drugs you use and if you can go to the pharmacies you want.  This is something that we can help you with from year to year.

■ If you have Medicaid and live in certain institutions (like a nursing home) or get home- and community-based services, you pay nothing for your covered prescription drugs.

If you didn’t automatically qualify for Extra Help, you can apply anytime:

■ Visit socialsecurity.gov/i1020 to apply online.

■ Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778.

Questions, Concerns, and Information about Extra Help?

If you wish to discuss in detail of how this may apply to you, about your qualification, or any questions about any part of this article, feel free to contact me directly at 888-901-4870 or simply use this online contact form and I’ll get back to you promptly!   As usual, there’s never any fee for our services!