Extra Help Eligibility Checker
Extra Help pays most Medicare Part D drug costs for people with limited income and savings. It covers the premium, the deductible and your copays at the pharmacy. Social Security decides who gets it, and the application at ssa.gov is free. People who receive Extra Help owe no Part D late-enrollment penalty.
This is a three-question screener for Extra Help, the federal program that helps pay Medicare prescription drug plan premiums, deductibles and copays for people with limited income and savings. You choose single or married and living together, enter your rough monthly income before taxes, and enter your savings and investments — bank accounts, CDs, stocks, IRAs. Your home, one vehicle and personal belongings do not count. The page also prints the current published income and asset limits with the year and the source they came from.
It returns one of three answers: you look likely to qualify; you are close to the line, so apply anyway; or you are above the published ranges but should still look at your state's Medicare Savings Programs, which use different limits and can pay a Part B premium. It links to the application on ssa.gov, which costs nothing, and to the state Medicaid office locator.
What it will not do is decide. Only Social Security can determine eligibility, and its counting is more generous than this quick check: some earnings are excluded, limits rise with dependents at home, and Alaska and Hawaii use higher figures. By design the tool never returns a flat no. The screener itself asks for no name or contact details, though optional forms lower on the page do.
Next: apply through Social Security if you are anywhere near the limits, find your state Medicaid office, or ask a licensed agent to walk through both programs in one call.
Frequently asked questions
Who qualifies for Extra Help?
People with Medicare whose income and countable resources fall under the limits Social Security publishes each year. Your home, one vehicle and personal belongings are not counted. Only Social Security can decide.
What does Extra Help pay for?
It lowers or removes the Part D premium and the deductible, and it caps what you pay at the pharmacy. It does not pay the Part B premium. A state Medicare Savings Program is the route for that.
Do I still owe a Part D late-enrollment penalty if I get Extra Help?
No. People who qualify for Extra Help owe no Part D late-enrollment penalty for as long as they keep it.
Should I apply if I am close to the limits?
Yes. Social Security counts income more generously than a quick screener can. Some earnings are excluded, the limits rise with dependents at home, and Alaska and Hawaii use higher figures.
Updated September 15, 2026.