Medicare has a program that helps pay for your prescription medicine. It’s called Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage or Medicare Part D. This program pays for some, but not all, of your prescription drug costs. If you have or can enroll in Medicare Part D and have limited income and resources, you may be able to get “Extra Help” from this program. This means that you can get more help paying for your medicine. Extra Help offers three levels of help, depending on your income and resources.

Please note: If you have Extra Help and you have not yet enrolled in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, you may still get prescription drug coverage through Medicare’s Limited Income NET (LINET) Program.

How do I apply for Extra Help?

If you meet the guidelines for the Extra Help program, you can enroll in the program on BenefitsCheckUp or directly with the Social Security Administration.

If you have Medicare and also get Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or a Medicare Savings Program, you do not need to apply for the Extra Help program – you have already been enrolled.

Here are ways you can apply for the Extra Help:

• Apply online now on BenefitsCheckUp.

• Call SSA at (800) 772-1213 or (800) 325-0778 (TTY) to order a paper application or to complete an application over the phone. SSA can also help you complete your application.

If you need prescription coverage right away:

LINET is a Medicare program (administered by Humana), that provides immediate prescription coverage for Medicare beneficiaries who qualify for “Extra Help” and have no prescription drug coverage. Enrollment in LINET is temporary, usually for 1 to 2 months, during which time you can choose your own plan. Get more information about LINET.