Medicare Part D
The Low-Income Subsidy explained for Bowling Green Medicare
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — If prescription costs have been squeezing your monthly budget, there's a federal program that could ease the strain, and many people who qualify don't realize it. It's called Extra Help, sometimes known as the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS), and it's designed to lower what people with Medicare pay for their Part D prescription drugs.
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Click to call 855-729-3240Key takeaways
- Extra Help, also called the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS), is a federal program that lowers what people with Medicare pay for Part D prescription drugs.
- Since 2024, everyone who qualifies for Extra Help gets the full subsidy, since the old "partial" category was eliminated.
- Some people qualify automatically and get a letter, but everyone else can apply for free online at ssa.gov/extrahelp, by phone, or at a local Social Security office.
- People who qualify for Extra Help also get a Special Enrollment Period to change drug plans outside the normal Oct. 15 – Dec. 7 enrollment window if their circumstances change.
Here in Bowling Green — which sits in Warren County — local seniors and people with disabilities on Medicare have the same access to Extra Help as anyone else in the country. The rules are set federally by the Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Below is a plain-language look at who can get it, what it does, and how to apply.
What Extra Help actually does
Extra Help lowers the cost of Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. For people who qualify, it can:
- Pay all or part of the monthly Part D premium (up to a benchmark amount).
- Reduce or eliminate the Part D deductible.
- Cap what you pay at the pharmacy counter for covered drugs at small, fixed copay amounts set each year by Medicare.
As of 2024, Extra Help was expanded so that everyone who qualifies now gets the full subsidy — the old "partial" Extra Help category is gone. That change made the program simpler and more generous for people near the income limit.
Extra Help works alongside the broader 2026 Part D improvements, which include a $2,100 out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs and a maximum Part D deductible of $615. The coverage gap (the old "donut hole") has been eliminated since 2025.
Who qualifies in 2027
To get Extra Help, you must have Medicare and meet income and resource limits set by Social Security. In general, you may qualify if:
- Your annual income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level (higher for larger households, and certain income is not counted).
- Your resources (things like money in checking, savings, stocks, and bonds) are under the annual limit. Your home, one car, burial plots, and personal belongings don't count.
Some people get Extra Help automatically and don't need to apply. That includes people who:
- Have both Medicare and full Medicaid,
- Get help from a Medicare Savings Program, or
- Receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
If that's you, you'll get a letter from Medicare. Everyone else needs to apply — and it's free to do so.
How to apply from Bowling Green
There are three straightforward ways to apply for Extra Help:
1. Online at ssa.gov/extrahelp. 2. By phone by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). 3. In person at a local Social Security office. Bowling Green residents typically use the office serving Warren County; call ahead to check hours and whether an appointment is needed.
You can also get free, unbiased help from Kentucky SHIP (the State Health Insurance Assistance Program), which has counselors who walk people through Extra Help, Medicare Savings Programs, and Part D choices at no cost. Reach Kentucky SHIP at 1-877-293-7447.
How Extra Help fits with your Part D plan
Extra Help doesn't replace a Part D plan — it lowers what you pay under one. You still need to be enrolled in a Medicare drug plan (either a stand-alone Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage).
Bowling Green is in Warren County, where Medicare beneficiaries have a range of Part D and Medicare Advantage options to choose from during the Annual Enrollment Period, Oct. 15 – Dec. 7. People who qualify for Extra Help also get a Special Enrollment Period, meaning you can change drug plans outside the normal windows if your circumstances change.
If you're worried about a large pharmacy bill hitting all at once, ask about the new Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which lets you spread your out-of-pocket drug costs across the calendar year in monthly payments. It's optional and separate from Extra Help, but the two can work together.
Common myths worth clearing up
- "I own my home, so I won't qualify." Your primary home isn't counted as a resource.
- "I tried years ago and was denied." Income and resource limits have changed, and the program expanded in 2024. It's worth reapplying.
- "Applying will affect my Social Security check." It won't. Extra Help is a separate benefit.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Warren County
(MA penetration in Warren County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
Try it
Find your 2026 Medicare premium
Most people pay the standard Part B premium. If your 2024 income was higher, an income-related surcharge (IRMAA) applies. Enter your details to see your bracket.
Surcharges are added to your premiums and based on your 2024 tax return. Married-filing-separately uses a different schedule. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
Try it
How the 2026 Part D drug cap works
Slide to your estimated yearly prescription costs and see how the new $2,100 out-of-pocket cap protects you. This illustrates the standard Part D benefit; your plan may structure costs differently.
Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs reaches $2,100, you pay nothing more for the rest of 2026. Confirm details at Medicare.gov.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Q: Do I have to be on Medicaid to get Extra Help?
Q: If I qualify mid-year, do I have to wait until fall to use it?
Q: Does Extra Help cover my Part B premium or doctor visits?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.