This program pays for your Medicare Part B premium, which is $170.10 a month. Some people will pay less than the full Part B standard monthly premium amount due to the statutory hold harmless provision, which limits certain beneficiaries’ increase in their Part B premium to not be greater than the increase in their Social Security benefits.

In some cases, this program also helps pay for some of your other Medicare costs. Examples include:

• Medicare Part B annual deductible and share of cost: This program pays for your Medicare Part B deductible, which is $233 in 2022. It also pays for your share (20%) of the cost of services when you receive services from a Medicare provider.

• Medicare Part A deductible and copayments: This program pays for your Medicare Part A deductible and copayments when you are in the hospital or living in a skilled nursing facility.

In addition, if you enroll in a Medicare Cost Sharing (MCS) program, you will be signed up for the Extra Help program through Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage. This program helps people with limited income and resources pay for medications.

Please note: If you have Medicare and an MCS program, you may want to consider getting your coverage through a Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan (SNP). This plan may help you by managing the health care services you need. An SNP may also offer more benefits than what you already get from Original Medicare.

In some cases, you may have no monthly premiums and/or you may pay lower copayments. However, all SNP plans are different, so check with the plan to see if you can enroll and what it covers.

It is also important to note that SNPs are not available in every community. To find out if there is an SNP available in your area, please go to www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or 1-877-486-2048 (TTY).

How do I apply?

To apply for this program, you can print and fill out the application form and mail it to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS).