Medicare Extra Help can lower your prescription drug costs to just a few dollars per refill. This federal assistance program—formally known as the Part D Low-Income Subsidy—saves eligible seniors an estimated $5,700 every year.
Recent expansions under federal law make it easier than ever to qualify. Anyone who meets the financial requirements now receives full program benefits, as partial subsidies no longer exist.
If your monthly income and savings fall within modest boundaries, you could eliminate your drug plan deductible and slash your copays. Here is how the 2026 limits work and how you can apply today.
What Medicare Extra Help Covers in 2026
Medicare Extra Help targets out-of-pocket prescription expenses under Medicare Part D. It protects older adults and people with disabilities from escalating pharmacy bills throughout the calendar year.
The program provides substantial relief by wiping out your Part D monthly premium. As long as you choose a benchmark basic Part D plan, your monthly plan premium is $0.
Extra Help also waives your annual prescription deductible. In 2026, the standard Medicare Part D deductible reaches up to $615, but you pay $0 out of pocket before your coverage begins.
You also receive fixed, discounted copayments every time you fill a covered prescription. In 2026, standard Extra Help beneficiaries pay no more than $5.10 for generic drugs and $12.65 for brand-name drugs.
Beneficiaries with both Medicare and full Medicaid who earn under 100% of the Federal Poverty Level pay even less. In 2026, their copayments drop to $1.60 for generics and $4.90 for brand-name medications.
If you receive institutional care or Home and Community-Based Services through Medicaid, your copays drop to $0. Every covered prescription becomes completely free at the pharmacy counter.
Under current law, the Part D catastrophic out-of-pocket spending cap is $2,100 in 2026. Once your spending hits this ceiling—including subsidies paid on your behalf—you pay $0 for covered medications for the rest of the year.
Finally, Extra Help waives any late enrollment penalty you might have incurred. If you went without creditable drug coverage in the past, those accumulated monthly penalty fees simply vanish.
