Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy (Extra Help)

If a Medicare Beneficiary has limited income and resources they may apply for a low-income subsidy (LIS), which is financial assistance with the costs of Medicare Part D.  LIS, also known as “Extra Help”, is a Federal Medicare program to help people with limited income and resources pay Medicare drug coverage (Part D) premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other costs. To qualify for the LIS in 2025 if you live in Suffolk County or Nassau County Long Island:

• In New York the income limits for 2025 are $23,475 individual/ $31,130 couple

In addition, to qualify, beneficiary resources may not exceed the published amount.  The resources counted toward the limit include bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and other liquid resources that beneficiaries can readily convert to cash within 20 days and real estate that is not the beneficiary’s primary residence. States DO NOT count your home, one car, burial plot, up to $1,500 for burial expenses if you have put that money aside, furniture, other household and personal items.

• For 2025, in New York, resources may not exceed $17,600 individual/ $35,130 couple. 

  
  

What you'll pay under Extra Help in 2025

• Plan premium: $0

• Plan deductible: $0

• Prescriptions you fill at one of your plan's participating pharmacies:

  • Up to $4.90 for each generic drug

  • Up to $12.15 for each brand-name drug

    Once your total drug costs (including certain payments made on your behalf, like through the Extra Help program) reach $2,000, you’ll pay $0 for each covered drug.

If you qualify for Extra Help you’ll automatically be enrolled in a Medicare drug plan (Part D), if you don’t already have one. You’ll get a letter telling you about your new plan. You can pick a different Medicare drug plan if you want. You'll continue getting Extra Help for the rest of the year, even if your income changes in the middle of the year. If you meet the income and resource limits for the next year, you’ll keep getting Extra Help. If you no longer qualify, or if there are any Plan changes, you will get a letter. If you don’t get a letter, you’ll keep getting Extra Help and keep the same plan for the next year.

To apply for LIS - Extra Help go to https://www.ssa.gov/medicare/part-d-extra-help