Medicare Part D

Struggling with drug costs in Rolla? Extra Help may cover most of the bill

ROLLA, Mo. — If prescription costs are stretching your budget, there's a federal program that could take a big bite out of what you pay at the pharmacy. It's called Extra Help, and many people who qualify don't realize it.

Extra Help, also known as the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS), is a Medicare program that assists people with limited income and resources in paying for Part D prescription drug coverage. According to the Social Security Administration, the benefit is worth roughly $6,200 per year on average for those who qualify — money that goes toward premiums, deductibles, and copays for covered medications.

Here in Phelps County, where Rolla is located, seniors and people with disabilities on Medicare have the same access to Extra Help as anyone else in the country. You can apply anytime — there's no waiting for an enrollment window.

What Extra Help actually pays for

Extra Help works alongside your Medicare Part D plan. If you qualify, the program can:

• Lower or eliminate your Part D monthly premium (up to a benchmark amount)
• Reduce or eliminate your Part D deductible
• Cap what you pay for each covered prescription at a small copay
• Remove any late enrollment penalty for Part D

Even with the Part D out-of-pocket cap of $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, and the elimination of the coverage gap, that cap is still real money. Extra Help can bring your share far below that ceiling.

Who qualifies in 2027

Congress expanded Extra Help in 2024, so more people qualify now than in past years. To get the full benefit in 2027, you generally need to meet two tests:

Income: Your annual income must be at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. For 2025 applications, that's roughly $23,475 for an individual and $31,725 for a married couple living together (higher in Alaska and Hawaii). Some income, like a portion of earnings, doesn't count.

Resources: Your countable resources — like money in checking, savings, stocks, and bonds — must be under set limits (around $17,600 for an individual and $35,130 for a couple in 2025). Your home, one car, burial plots, and personal belongings don't count.

If you already have Medicaid, SSI, or help from a Medicare Savings Program, you're automatically enrolled in Extra Help — no application needed.

How to apply

There are three simple ways to apply:

1. Online at ssa.gov/extrahelp 2. By phone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) 3. In person at your local Social Security office

The application is short — most people finish it in about 10 minutes. You don't need to provide proof of income or resources upfront; Social Security may follow up if they need documents.

If you'd rather have someone walk you through it, Missouri's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), known locally as CLAIM (Community Leaders Assisting the Insured of Missouri), offers free, unbiased counseling. Their trained volunteers can review whether Extra Help fits your situation.

Why it's worth applying even if you're not sure

A lot of people assume they earn "too much" or have "too much saved" to qualify. Others worry that applying will affect other benefits — it won't. Social Security estimates that millions of eligible Americans still haven't signed up.

There's no cost to apply, no penalty if you're turned down, and you can reapply if your income or resources change. If you qualify mid-year, your Extra Help kicks in the month you're approved.

What to do during Annual Enrollment

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7 every year. If you get Extra Help, you also get a Special Enrollment Period that lets you change Part D plans once per quarter during the first three quarters of the year. That flexibility means you're not locked in if a plan stops covering one of your medications.