Who qualifies for Extra Help?

by Sandra Teel

Medicare insurance broker

Those who meet certain income and resource limits may qualify for Low Income Subsidy (LIS) Extra Help. This program helps pay for Medicare prescription drugs, and a person must be enrolled in a Medicare prescription drug plan to participate.

In 2022, people may qualify if they have up to $20,385 in yearly income ($27,465 for a married couple) and up to $15,510 in resources ($30,950 for a married couple). Resources that count are things such as money in checking and savings accounts, stocks, and bonds.

Resources that do not count include a person’s home, one car, burial plot plus up to $1,500 for burial expenses, furniture and personal household items.

If people think they might qualify, what should they do? People not receiving Medi-Cal (Medicaid) or SSI (Social Security Income Benefits) who feel they qualify for extra help can apply at any time by going to the Social Security Administration website’s “Extra Help With Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs” page ( secure.ssa. gov/i1020/start), or by calling the local Social Security Office to make an appointment to go in and fill out the application. The closest office is in Long Beach and may be reached by calling (800) 772-1213.

Some people may also be able to get help from the state with other Medicare costs under Medicare Savings Programs. Information on those programs can be found at cahealthadvocates. org/low-income-help/ medicare- savings- programsmsps/. A Medicare insurance broker or a representative of the Orange County Social Serevices Agency can help start people start the application process for a Medicare Savings Program.

Sandra Teel can be contacted at (657) 204-4224 or (909) 856-9379.