Medicare Assistance & Savings Programs
Millions of people on Medicare qualify for programs that pay their Part B premium or cut their prescription costs and never claim them, usually because nobody told them the programs exist. These are the ones worth checking.
Free to use. Checking does not affect your credit score.
The help most people on Medicare never claim
Medicare is not free. Part B carries a monthly premium, Part A can carry a deductible per benefit period, and prescription costs under Part D add up. For people with limited income and resources, several programs exist specifically to absorb those costs.
The Medicare Savings Programs are run by your state Medicaid agency and can pay your Part B premium outright, and in the broadest category also cover deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Extra Help, run by Social Security, dramatically reduces Part D prescription costs and automatically comes with a special enrollment period.
Income and resource limits apply, and they are set higher than most people expect — several states have raised or eliminated the asset test entirely. It is worth applying even if you think you earn too much.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program, to get information on all of your options. This site is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
Medicare programs and coverage choices
The first three are government assistance programs. The rest are coverage decisions where a licensed agent can help you compare.
Medicare Savings Programs
Part B premium fully paidFour state-run programs — QMB, SLMB, QI, and QDWI — that pay some or all of your Medicare costs. QMB is the broadest and can cover the Part B premium, deductibles, and cost sharing. Enrollment in any of them also qualifies you automatically for Extra Help.
Extra Help (Part D Low-Income Subsidy)
$0 – low copays on Part DAdministered by Social Security, Extra Help reduces or eliminates Part D premiums and deductibles and caps prescription copayments. It is worth thousands of dollars a year to those who qualify, and you can apply directly with SSA online.
State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs
Free to applyMany states run their own prescription assistance for residents on Medicare, layered on top of Part D. They are separate from Extra Help, have their own limits, and are one of the most commonly missed benefits.
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
$0-premium plans availablePrivate plans that replace Original Medicare and usually bundle Part D, often adding dental, vision, or hearing benefits. Networks, prior authorization rules, and out-of-pocket maximums vary widely between plans, so the comparison matters more than the premium.
Medigap (Supplement) Plans
Free to compareStandardized policies that pay the gaps Original Medicare leaves. Your strongest guaranteed-issue rights exist during a limited window after you first enroll in Part B — miss it and, in most states, medical underwriting can apply later.
Enrollment Periods
Free to switchYour Initial Enrollment Period runs around your 65th birthday. Annual open enrollment runs each fall. Medicare Advantage has its own opening early in the year, and life events such as a move or a loss of employer coverage can create a special period.
Who typically qualifies
Eligibility for the assistance programs depends on income and resources, measured against limits your state publishes each year:
- You are enrolled in Medicare Part A, or eligible to enroll
- Monthly income falls under your state’s limit for one of the four Medicare Savings Programs
- Countable resources are under the published limit — several states have removed the asset test entirely
- You are a U.S. citizen or a lawfully present resident meeting the residency rules
- For Extra Help: income and resources under the federal limits, or automatic qualification through Medicaid, SSI, or an MSP
- For a Special Enrollment Period: a qualifying event such as a move, a plan leaving your area, or losing employer coverage
Income limits are indexed and change annually, and some states apply more generous rules than the federal floor. Apply and let the agency make the determination rather than screening yourself out.
How to apply
Apply for the assistance programs first
Medicare Savings Programs go through your state Medicaid office and Extra Help goes through Social Security. Both are free to apply for and neither requires an agent.
Get free, unbiased counseling
Every state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) whose counselors are trained, free, and not paid on commission. Use them for the coverage decision itself.
Compare plans before the deadline
If you want help from a licensed agent, use the annual enrollment window and compare drug formularies and provider networks, not just premiums. Confirm your own prescriptions and doctors in each plan.
Where to apply, free
Every program above can be applied for directly with the agency that runs it, at no cost.
Common questions
What is the difference between a Medicare Savings Program and Extra Help?
A Medicare Savings Program is run by your state and pays Medicare costs such as the Part B premium and, in the broadest category, deductibles and cost sharing. Extra Help is run by Social Security and reduces Part D prescription drug costs. They are separate applications, but qualifying for an MSP automatically qualifies you for Extra Help.
Do I have to be on Medicaid to get help with Medicare costs?
No. Medicare Savings Programs are administered by state Medicaid agencies, but the income and resource limits are higher than full Medicaid eligibility, so many people qualify for premium help without qualifying for Medicaid itself.
Is Medicare Advantage better than Original Medicare with a supplement?
Neither is better in the abstract, and anyone who answers that question without asking about your doctors, prescriptions, travel, and budget is selling rather than advising. Advantage plans usually cost less monthly and add extra benefits but restrict you to a network with prior authorization. Original Medicare plus a supplement costs more monthly and gives you nearly any provider who accepts Medicare. The timing rules for supplements are what most people get wrong.
When can I change my Medicare coverage?
The main annual window runs from October 15 through December 7 for changes effective January 1. Medicare Advantage enrollees get a further window early in the year to switch plans or return to Original Medicare. Special enrollment periods open after qualifying events such as moving, losing other coverage, or gaining Extra Help.
Where can I get help that is not paid on commission?
Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program. SHIP counselors are trained volunteers and staff who provide free one-on-one Medicare counseling and are not compensated by insurers. Find your state program at shiphelp.org, or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
See what you qualify for
Answer a few questions and we will show you the programs and licensed providers available where you live.
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