Medicare Part D

Extra Help in Grand Island: Cutting 2026 Drug Costs

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — If prescription costs are stretching your budget, there is a federal program worth knowing about before the year ends. It is called the Low-Income Subsidy, or "Extra Help," and it can significantly reduce what people with Medicare pay for their Part D drug coverage.

Grand Island Seniors Have a Real Tool for Drug Costs in 2027

Grand Island is in Hall County, where Medicare Part D plans are offered through private insurers approved by the federal government. Extra Help works alongside those plans — it does not replace them — and it can make a meaningful difference for people who qualify.

Here's what to know as the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7) approaches.

What Extra Help Actually Does

Extra Help is a federal program run by the Social Security Administration and Medicare. For people who qualify, it lowers or eliminates the Part D premium, reduces the deductible, and caps what you pay at the pharmacy counter for covered drugs.

The standard Part D maximum deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. The annual out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Extra Help sits on top of those protections and pushes costs down further for people with limited income and resources.

Since 2025, the old "donut hole" coverage gap has been eliminated. Part D now has three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic coverage — with a firm ceiling once you hit the cap ($2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027).

Who Qualifies in 2027

Extra Help is based on two things: your income and your resources (savings, investments, and similar assets — not your home or car).

• Income: Generally, single filers with income up to about 150% of the federal poverty level may qualify. Married couples living together have a higher limit.
• Resources: There are separate resource limits for individuals and couples. These limits are updated each year by Social Security.

A big change that took effect in 2024 expanded full Extra Help to more people. If you were denied in the past because you only qualified for the "partial" benefit, it's worth applying again — the partial tier no longer exists, and many people now get the full benefit.

You may also qualify automatically if you have Medicaid, get help from a Medicare Savings Program, or receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

How to Apply

There is no cost to apply, and you can do it three ways:

1. Online at ssa.gov/medicare/part-d-extra-help 2. By calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 3. In person at a local Social Security office

You can apply any time of year — you do not have to wait for a specific enrollment window. If you're approved, you also get a Special Enrollment Period to join or switch a Part D plan outside the normal calendar.

What About the Monthly Payment Plan?

Even if you do not qualify for Extra Help, Medicare now offers the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. It is optional and free to join. Instead of paying a large pharmacy bill all at once, you can spread your covered drug costs across monthly payments during the year. It does not change what you owe overall — it just changes when you pay it.

This can be helpful for people who take an expensive medication early in the year and would otherwise face a big bill in January or February.

Important Dates for Grand Island Residents

• Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2026: Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. Review your Part D or Medicare Advantage coverage for 2027.
• Jan. 1 – March 31, 2027: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch once during this window.
• Any time: Apply for Extra Help.

Also keep in mind: IRMAA (higher-income surcharges on Part B and Part D) begins above $109,000 in income for single filers in 2026. That is at the opposite end of the income spectrum from Extra Help, but it's a reminder that Medicare pricing is very individual.