Medicare Part D

Bayonne Seniors: Extra Help Can Ease Part D Drug Costs

In Bayonne, a lot of people on Medicare are quietly stretching their budgets to cover prescriptions. If that sounds familiar, there's a federal program worth knowing about: Extra Help, also called the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS). It's designed to lower what people with limited income and savings pay for their Part D drug coverage — and many who qualify don't realize it.

What Extra Help actually does

Extra Help is a federal benefit administered by the Social Security Administration and Medicare. If you qualify, it lowers or eliminates your Part D plan premium, reduces your deductible, and caps what you pay at the pharmacy counter for covered drugs. As of 2024, the program was expanded so that everyone who qualifies gets the full benefit — there is no longer a partial tier.

That matters because Part D costs, even with the annual out-of-pocket cap ($2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027), can still be a real burden month to month. Extra Help works alongside your Part D plan; it does not replace it.

Who qualifies in 2027

Eligibility is based on two things: your income and your resources (things like money in checking, savings, stocks, and bonds). The Social Security Administration updates the limits each year, and they're higher than many people assume. A single person or a married couple living together are counted differently, and certain things — like your home, your car, and personal belongings — don't count as resources.

Some people are automatically enrolled in Extra Help and don't need to apply. This includes people who:

• Have both Medicare and full Medicaid (NJ FamilyCare in New Jersey),
• Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or
• Are enrolled in a Medicare Savings Program through the state.

If none of those apply to you, you can still qualify — you just need to apply.

How to apply from Bayonne

There are three straightforward 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 a Social Security office. The closest offices to Bayonne are in Jersey City and Elizabeth — call ahead to check hours and whether you need an appointment.

The application is free. Be wary of anyone who offers to file it for you for a fee.

What Bayonne residents should know about local plan choices

Bayonne is in Hudson County, where Medicare beneficiaries have a wide range of stand-alone Part D and Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage to choose from during the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7). Extra Help follows you between plans — if you qualify and later switch plans, the subsidy continues to apply.

People who get Extra Help also have more flexibility to change plans outside the usual enrollment windows, which is a benefit many recipients don't realize they have.

Other programs that can stack with Extra Help

If prescription costs are tight, a few other tools may help:

• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. Launched in 2025 and continuing in 2027, this optional program lets you spread your Part D out-of-pocket costs across monthly payments instead of paying big bills at the pharmacy. It doesn't lower the total, but it smooths the timing.
• New Jersey PAAD and Senior Gold. These are state pharmacy assistance programs for residents who meet income limits. They can work with Medicare Part D.
• Medicare Savings Programs. These help pay Part B premiums and, in some cases, other Medicare costs.

Where to get free, one-on-one help

• Medicare.gov for plan comparisons and program rules.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24/7.
• SHIP-NJ (State Health Insurance Assistance Program), which offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling to New Jersey residents.
• Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 for Extra Help questions.