Extra Help Eligibility Calculator
Check if you qualify for Extra Help (LIS) in 2026 and see how much it could save on your Medicare Part D drug costs.
Extra Help pays most or all of your Medicare Part D drug costs if your monthly income is below $2,015 (individual) or $2,725 (couple) in 2026, and your assets are below $16,590 (individual) or $33,100 (couple). If you already have Medicaid, SSI, or a Medicare Savings Program, you're automatically enrolled.
Extra Help can eliminate your Part D deductible, cover your premium, and cap your prescription copays at just a few dollars. Since 2024, there's only one benefit level, so if you qualify, you get the full savings. Answer a few questions below to check your eligibility.
Check Your Extra Help Eligibility
What full Extra Help covers
- $0 monthly premium, up to your regional benchmark plan amount
- $0 annual deductible
- Copays capped at $5.10 for generic drugs and $12.65 for brand-name drugs
- $0 for covered drugs once you reach $2,100 in out-of-pocket drug spending for the year
Apply anyway. Some circumstances raise these limits, for example, living with dependents can raise the income limit, and Alaska and Hawaii have higher limits than the rest of the country.
Extra Help checks two things: your income and your assets, both against 2026 federal limits. If you're under $2,015 a month as an individual, or $2,725 as a couple, and your countable assets stay under $16,590 (or $33,100 for a couple), you likely qualify. Your home and one vehicle never count toward that asset limit, and if you tell Social Security you're setting aside some savings for burial expenses, the limit rises further, to $18,090 or $36,100. The benefit itself is straightforward since the Inflation Reduction Act simplified it in 2024: no more partial tier, just one full benefit for everyone who qualifies. That means a $0 premium up to a regional benchmark amount, no annual deductible, and copays capped at $5.10 for generic drugs and $12.65 for brand-name drugs in 2026. If you already have Medicaid, receive SSI, or are enrolled in a Medicare Savings Program like QMB, SLMB, or QI, you don't need to apply at all, you're automatically enrolled in Extra Help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Extra Help?
Also called the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS), it's a federal program that pays most or all of your Medicare Part D prescription drug costs, including your premium, deductible, and copays, for people with limited income and assets.
What is the income limit for Extra Help in 2026?
$2,015/month for an individual or $2,725/month for a married couple, which is 150% of the Federal Poverty Level.
What is the asset limit for Extra Help in 2026?
$16,590 for an individual or $33,100 for a couple. These limits rise to $18,090 and $36,100 if you notify Social Security that you're setting aside some savings for burial expenses.
Are there different levels of Extra Help?
Not anymore. Before 2024, there was a full tier and a partial tier. The Inflation Reduction Act eliminated the partial tier, so everyone who qualifies now gets the same full benefit.
Do I need to apply for Extra Help separately if I already have Medicaid?
No. People with Medicaid, SSI, or a Medicare Savings Program (QMB, SLMB, or QI) are automatically enrolled in Extra Help.
How much does Extra Help save on prescription drugs?
Full Extra Help eliminates your Part D deductible, covers your premium up to a regional benchmark amount, and caps your copays at $5.10 for generics and $12.65 for brand-name drugs in 2026.
This calculator provides a general estimate based on 2026 federal Extra Help eligibility limits and does not constitute a determination of eligibility. Income limits are higher for people with dependents living with them, and for residents of Alaska and Hawaii. For an official determination, apply through the Social Security Administration.