Get Extra Help paying for prescription drugs
Connect with a team member to see if you qualify for help paying for your prescriptions.
1-503-574-8416 (TTY: 711)
What is the Extra Help program?
Extra Help is a federal program that is available for Medicare eligible individuals in the U.S. who are age 63 and over and meet income requirements. Extra Help lowers prescription drug costs and the Part D premium to $0, in most cases resulting in a $0 monthly premium.
See how much you can save
Prescription drug costs* with Extra Help
| Medicare Part D | Your cost with Extra Help |
|---|---|
| Rx deductible | $0 |
| Generic | $0 / $1.55 / $4.50 |
| All other brands | $0 / $4.60 / $11.20 |
With Extra Help, you can get a $0 plan full of benefits
$0 monthly premiums
$0 premium plans available. This means that these plans are free to enroll in and there are no monthly premiums to pay.
$0 prescription deductibles
$0 prescription deductible means there are no minimums to hit, plus a 100-day supply means only 3 refills a year.
Over-the-counter (OTC) allowance
Over-the-counter allowance is available on many plans. Up to $600/year.
Vision benefits
$0 routine eye exam and $250 allowance for glasses and contact lenses.
Dental benefits
$0 preventive dental included on most plans with dental allowances up to $3,100/year on select plans to use for crowns, x-rays or any dental service.
Get the most out of Extra Help
Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties in OR & Clark County, WA
Bridge + Rx (HMO-POS) plan
Benton, Walla Walla, Franklin, Snohomish, & Spokane counties, WA
Cottonwood + RX (HMO-POS) plan
Orange County, CA
Sycamore + RX (HMO) plan
See if you qualify
To qualify for Extra Help, you need to meet the following requirements.
Enrolled in Medicare
To qualify for Extra Help, you must have Medicare Part A or B.
Meet income requirements
If your income meets the requirements shown below, you could qualify for Extra Help.
Residency
Be a U.S. citizen or have legal permanent residency.
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Income Requirement
You are eligible for Extra Help if:
- You are unemployed or make less than $21,870 per year (single) or $29,580 per year (married couples living together)
- You have financial resources (such as money in the bank, retirement accounts, or stocks) that are less than $16,600 yearly (single) or $33,240 yearly (married couples living together)
- You are unemployed or make less than $21,870 per year (single) or $29,580 per year (married couples living together)
Learn more about Extra Help
To find out if you qualify, learn more and get help with your application, call
1-503-574-8416 (TTY: 711)
Monday - Sunday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m (Pacific Time).
Get in touch. Our experts are here to help you.
If you have any questions about the Extra Help program, we are happy to help. Send us a message, and we will get back to you soon.
Frequently asked questions
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What is Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug plan costs?
Anyone who has Medicare can get Medicare prescription drug coverage. Some people with limited resources and income may also be able to get Extra Help with the costs — monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription co-payments — related to a Medicare prescription drug plan.
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What kind of Medicare Advantage plan can I get with Extra Help?
With Extra Help, your monthly premium could be reduced to $0 for a Providence Medicare Advantage plan rich in benefits like $0 prescriptions, vision, preventive dental, hearing coverage, a flex dental card to spend on eligible dental expenses, over-the-counter allowance and more.
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How do I know if I qualify for Extra Help?
Many people are eligible for Extra Help and don’t know it. To find out if you qualify, Social Security will need to know the value of your savings, investments, real estate (other than your home), and your income. For more information about Extra Help, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
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What is the resource limit?
To qualify for Extra Help, your resources must be limited to $16,660 for an individual or $33,240 for a married couple living together. Resources include the value of the things you own. Some examples are real estate (other than your primary residence), bank accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and cash at home or anywhere else.
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What is the income limit?
To qualify for Extra Help, your annual income must be limited to $21,870 for an individual or $29,580 for a married couple living together. Even if your annual income is higher, you may still be able to get some help.
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How do I apply for Extra Help?
Apply online at www.ssa.gov/extrahelp or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to apply over the phone. You can also apply at your local Social Security office.
Legal
Disclaimers & things to know
You must continue to pay your Part B premium.
For accommodations of persons with special needs at meetings call 503-574-7756 or 888-804-5148 (TTY: 711).
Providence Health Assurance is an HMO, HMO-POS and HMO SNP with Medicare and Oregon Health Plan contracts. Enrollment in Providence Health Assurance depends on contract renewal.
For a complete list of available plans please contact 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov.
We're here for you. If you need assistance or have questions please reach out to our customer service team at 503-574-8000 or 1-800-603-2340 TTY: 711 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Pacific Time), seven days a week.
To file a complaint about our marketing, you may call us at 1-800-603-2340 (TTY: 711) from 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. (Pacific Time), 7 days a week, by calling Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE, 24/7, or by submitting an online form at www.medicare.gov. If you experienced issues with agents or brokers, please include their name in the complaint if possible.
Webpage is current as of: 3/18/2024
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