Saving money on health costs: Extra Help program
November 27
By: Jonathan Blum, Acting Principal Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Medicare
If you’ve ever found yourself skipping a day of your medication or cutting your pills in half to make your supply last a little longer, there’s help. Medicare has a special program called “Extra Help.” If you have limited income and resources you can sign up to get help paying things like monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription copayments in your Medicare drug plan. Did you know that the Extra Help program is estimated to be worth about $4,000 dollars per person, per year? Even if you’re not sure you’d qualify, it’s worth filling out an application to see.
Estimates show that about 2 million people with Medicare may be eligible for the Extra Help program but don’t even know it. Are you or a family member one of these people?
It’s easy and free to apply for Extra Help. Here’s how:
- Apply online
- Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213
- Apply at your local Social Security office
Don’t wait – apply today to see if you qualify for some extra help with your health costs.
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