Medicare Part D

Struggling with drug costs in Westminster? How to tell if you qualify for Extra Help

Westminster, Md. — If prescription costs are pinching your budget, there is a federal program built for exactly that situation. It's called Extra Help, also known as the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS), and it can lower what you pay for Medicare Part D drug coverage. With the Part D out-of-pocket cap rising to $2,400 in 2027, understanding what Extra Help does — and whether you qualify — matters more than ever.

Medicare Part DWestminster, MD

What Extra Help actually does

Extra Help is a Medicare program run with the Social Security Administration. It's designed to reduce the cost of Part D prescription drug coverage for people with limited income and savings. That can mean a lower monthly Part D premium, a smaller (or no) deductible, and lower copays at the pharmacy counter.

Since 2024, the program has been simplified so that everyone who qualifies gets the "full" Extra Help benefit — there is no longer a partial tier. That change made the program easier to understand and, for many people, more generous.

Who qualifies in 2027

Eligibility is based on two things: your income and your resources (savings and certain assets). The Social Security Administration updates the exact limits each year, but as a general guide for 2026–2027:

• Your annual income generally needs to be at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.
• Your resources — things like money in checking, savings and most investments — need to fall under a set limit. Your home, one car and personal belongings do not count.

Some people are automatically enrolled in Extra Help. That includes anyone who has both Medicare and Medicaid, people enrolled in a Medicare Savings Program, and people who get Supplemental Security Income (SSI). If that's you, Medicare will send a letter — you don't have to apply.

If you're not sure whether you qualify, apply anyway. There is no cost to apply and no penalty for being told you don't qualify.

How Extra Help fits with Part D in 2027

The Part D benefit looks different now than it did just a few years ago. The coverage gap — the old "donut hole" — was eliminated in 2025, and Part D now has three phases instead of four. The annual out-of-pocket cap on what you pay for covered drugs is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, and the maximum deductible any Part D plan can charge is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.

Extra Help sits on top of those protections. If you qualify, your share of drug costs is lower from the start, so most people with Extra Help never come close to the annual cap. You may also want to know about the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, a separate option that lets any Part D enrollee spread drug costs across the year in monthly payments. It doesn't lower your total cost, but it can smooth out big pharmacy bills.

How to apply from Westminster

Westminster is in Carroll County, and residents here have the same application options as anyone with Medicare:

• Apply online at ssa.gov/extrahelp.
• Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
• Visit a local Social Security office (call first to check hours).
• Get free one-on-one help from Maryland's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which offers unbiased counseling to Medicare beneficiaries.

You can apply any time of year. If you're approved, you can also switch or join a Part D plan outside the usual Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7), because people with Extra Help get a Special Enrollment Period.

What to gather before you apply

Having a few documents ready makes the application faster:

• Your Medicare card or number.
• Recent bank and investment statements.
• Statements showing any pensions, Social Security, or other income.
• Information about your spouse's income and resources, if you're married and living together.

You don't need to be perfect on paperwork. Social Security will follow up if they need more information.