Medicare Part D

Londonderry Medicare Part D and the Extra Help subsidy

LONDONDERRY, N.H. — For many older adults in Londonderry, the cost of prescription drugs is one of the biggest worries about getting older. A federal program called Extra Help — also known as the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) — is designed to ease that burden for people with Medicare who have limited income and savings. And in 2027, it's working alongside some of the biggest changes Part D has seen in years.

Here's what Londonderry residents should know, and where to turn for a personal answer.

What Extra Help actually does

Extra Help is a federal benefit that lowers what you pay for your Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), people who qualify get help with:

• Their Part D monthly premium (up to a benchmark amount)
• Their Part D deductible
• The copays they pay at the pharmacy for covered drugs

People enrolled in Extra Help also don't face a late enrollment penalty for signing up for Part D late.

In short: Extra Help doesn't replace your drug plan — it makes the plan you already have far more affordable.

Who qualifies in 2027

Extra Help is based on income and resources, not age or health. As of 2024, Congress expanded the program so that anyone who qualifies now gets the full subsidy — there is no longer a partial tier.

To qualify, you generally need:

• Income below 150% of the federal poverty level (higher limits apply if you support other family members or still work)
• Resources (things like money in checking, savings, stocks, and bonds) under a set limit

Your home, one car, burial plots, and personal belongings do not count as resources. Many people who assume they earn too much actually qualify — which is why Medicare officials encourage anyone who is close to the line to apply.

You can apply any time of year through the Social Security Administration at ssa.gov/extrahelp, by calling 1-800-772-1213, or at a local Social Security office.

Why 2027 matters more than usual

Part D looks very different than it did just a few years ago. For 2027, CMS has set these program-wide rules:

• An out-of-pocket cap on covered Part D drugs of $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once you hit it, you pay nothing for covered prescriptions for the rest of the year.
• A maximum Part D deductible of $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027 (plans can charge less).
• The old coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025 — Part D now has just three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the year in monthly installments instead of paying all at once at the pharmacy.

Extra Help stacks on top of these protections. For someone with a fixed income in Londonderry, the combination of the 2027 out-of-pocket cap and LIS can make a real difference in whether medications get filled on time.

How Extra Help works in Rockingham County

Londonderry is in Rockingham County, where Medicare beneficiaries have a broad range of stand-alone Part D drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage. Plan availability is set at the county level, not the town level, so two neighbors in Londonderry see the same menu of options.

If you qualify for Extra Help, you can enroll in a Part D plan, switch plans, or drop a plan once per quarter during the first three quarters of the year — a much more flexible window than most people get. That means you're not locked in if your medications or pharmacy needs change.

Deadlines to keep in mind

Even with Extra Help, timing still matters:

• Medicare Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7 (change Part D or Medicare Advantage plans for the next year)
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 – March 31 (a second chance to change or drop Medicare Advantage)
• Extra Help applications: accepted any time, year-round

If you're already enrolled in Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or a Medicare Savings Program, you automatically get Extra Help — no separate application needed.