Medicare Part D
Low-Income Subsidy and Part D eligibility in Beverly
BEVERLY, Mass. — If prescription costs are stretching your budget, there's a federal program that can quietly take a big weight off your shoulders. It's called Extra Help — also known as the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) — and it helps people with Medicare pay for their Part D prescription drug coverage.
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Click to call 855-729-3240Key takeaways
- Extra Help, also called the Low-Income Subsidy, helps people with Medicare pay for their Part D prescription drug coverage.
- Since 2024, everyone who qualifies for Extra Help gets the full subsidy, since the old partial-benefit tier was eliminated.
- Extra Help works alongside the Part D annual out-of-pocket cap on drug costs, which is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, and most people with Extra Help will pay far less than that cap.
- You can apply for Extra Help anytime through Social Security online, by phone, or in person, and the short application does not require proof of income or assets.
Extra Help isn't new, but recent changes have made it easier to qualify and more valuable to have. Here's a plain-language look at how it works, who it's for, and how to apply from Beverly or anywhere in Essex County.
What Extra Help actually does
Extra Help lowers what you pay for your Medicare prescription drug plan. According to CMS, people who qualify get help with:
- Their Part D monthly premium (often reduced to $0, up to a benchmark amount).
- Their Part D deductible (the standard maximum is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027 — Extra Help eliminates it for those who qualify).
- Their copays at the pharmacy, which drop to small, set amounts.
Extra Help also works alongside the Part D annual out-of-pocket cap on drug costs, which is $2,100 in 2026 and rises to $2,400 in 2027. For people with Extra Help, most will hit far lower personal costs long before reaching that cap.
Who qualifies in 2027
As of 2024, Congress expanded Extra Help so that everyone who qualifies now gets the full subsidy — the old "partial" tier is gone. To qualify in 2027, you generally need to meet two tests:
- Income: At or below 150% of the federal poverty level. For a single person, that's roughly $1,900 a month; for a married couple living together, roughly $2,555 a month. (Exact figures update each year.)
- Resources: Limited savings and investments — generally under about $17,600 for an individual and $35,130 for a married couple in 2025 figures, with annual updates applied for later years. Your home, one car, burial plots, and household items don't count.
Some people are automatically enrolled in Extra Help and don't need to apply. That includes anyone who:
- Has both Medicare and full Medicaid (MassHealth in Massachusetts),
- Gets help from a Medicare Savings Program, or
- Receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
If that's you, Medicare mails you a notice — usually on purple or yellow paper. Keep it.
How to apply
You can apply for Extra Help any time of year — there's no enrollment window. Three easy ways:
1. Online at ssa.gov/extrahelp. 2. By phone at 1-800-772-1213 (Social Security). 3. In person at your local Social Security office.
The application is short — about 10 minutes — and you don't need to send in proof of income or assets when you apply. Social Security verifies the numbers for you.
Once approved, Extra Help lasts as long as you keep qualifying, though Social Security may re-check your status periodically.
What if you don't qualify — but costs still hurt
Even without Extra Help, there are options for Beverly residents:
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the calendar year in monthly installments instead of paying big bills at the pharmacy counter. There's no extra fee — it's just a smoothing tool.
- Prescription Advantage, Massachusetts' state pharmacy assistance program, can help fill gaps for older adults and people with disabilities.
- MassHealth may cover you if your income and assets are low enough.
Beverly is in Essex County, where Medicare beneficiaries have access to a range of stand-alone Part D plans and Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage. The plan list is set at the county level, and you can compare them all at medicare.gov/plan-compare.
Timing and enrollment windows
You can apply for Extra Help at any time, but you'll still want to know Medicare's calendar:
- Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7, 2026 — change your Part D or Medicare Advantage plan for 2027.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31 — if you're in an Advantage plan, you can switch once during this window.
If you become newly eligible for Extra Help mid-year, you get a Special Enrollment Period to join or change a Part D plan.
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 Essex County
(MA penetration in Essex 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
Do I have to be on Medicaid to get Extra Help?
Will applying for Extra Help affect my Social Security check?
I own my home. Does that count against me?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.