Medicare Part D

Extra Help: Part D Cost Assistance for Cheyenne Residents

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — 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, sometimes known as the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS), and it helps people with Medicare pay for their Part D prescription drug coverage.

Heading into 2027, Extra Help matters more than ever. Medicare's Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, and the maximum Part D deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. But those numbers can still feel out of reach for people on a fixed income. Extra Help can lower — and in many cases wipe out — the premium, deductible, and copays on a Part D plan.

Here's what Cheyenne residents should know, and how to check if you qualify.

What Extra Help Actually Does

Extra Help is a federal benefit run through the Social Security Administration and Medicare. If you qualify, it can:

• Reduce or eliminate your Part D monthly premium (up to the benchmark amount)
• Lower or eliminate your Part D deductible
• Cap what you pay at the pharmacy counter to small, set amounts per prescription
• Remove any late enrollment penalty for Part D

In 2024, Congress expanded Extra Help so that everyone who qualifies now gets the full subsidy — the old partial-benefit tier is gone. That's a meaningful change for people who were previously stuck in the middle.

Who Qualifies for 2027

Extra Help is based on your income and resources. The Social Security Administration updates the exact limits each year, but as a general guide:

• Your income must be below 150% of the federal poverty level
• Your resources (things like money in checking, savings, stocks, and bonds) must fall under set limits — your home, your car, and personal belongings don't count

Some people qualify automatically and don't need to apply. That includes anyone who:

• Has both Medicare and full Medicaid
• Gets Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Is enrolled in a Medicare Savings Program through their state

If that's you, you'll get a letter from Medicare letting you know.

If you're not automatic, you can still apply — and many people who assume they won't qualify actually do. It's worth checking.

Cheyenne and Laramie County: Where to Get Local Help

Cheyenne is in Laramie County, where Part D plan availability is set at the county level. That means the plans you can compare — and the pharmacies in their networks — depend on where you live, not just the state.

For free, unbiased, one-on-one help in Cheyenne, contact Wyoming SHIIP (the State Health Insurance Information Program). SHIIP counselors don't sell insurance and don't work on commission. They can walk you through the Extra Help application, help you compare Part D options during enrollment, and check whether you also qualify for a Medicare Savings Program that pays your Part B premium.

How to Apply

There are three easy ways to apply for Extra Help:

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

You don't need to wait for a special enrollment window to apply — Extra Help applications are accepted year-round. If you're approved, you also get a Special Enrollment Period to pick or change a Part D plan outside the usual dates.

Key Deadlines to Keep in Mind

While Extra Help itself has no deadline, Medicare's regular enrollment windows still apply for choosing or changing your drug plan:

• Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7 (changes take effect Jan. 1)
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31

If you qualify for Extra Help, you generally get one chance per quarter in the first three quarters of the year to change your Part D or Medicare Advantage drug plan — a flexibility most beneficiaries don't have.

Other Tools That Can Help

Even if you don't qualify for Extra Help, Medicare offers other ways to manage drug costs in 2027:

• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your out-of-pocket drug costs across the calendar year in monthly installments, instead of paying a big bill at the pharmacy at once. It's optional and free to join.
• The $2,100 annual cap on Part D out-of-pocket costs applies to everyone with a Part D plan — no application required.
• Higher-income beneficiaries (above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026) may pay IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D — this is separate from Extra Help.