QUALIFYING FOR EXTRA HELP TO PAY FOR YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS

Low Income Subsidy (LIS) from the Federal Government

You may automatically qualify for extra help with Medicare Part D expenses if

· You are enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid

· You are enrolled in a Medicare Savings Program that helps pay your medical bills or pays your Medicare Premiums (QMB, SLMB)

· You receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

If you do not automatically qualify for help with Medicare Part D expenses but you have limited income and assets, you may be eligible for some extra help:

· If your income is no more than $15,315 a year ($1,276 per month) for individuals and $20,535 a year ($1,711 per month) for couples and you have limited assets of no more than $11,700 (individuals) and $23,410 (couples), you may qualify for help. Assets include savings, stocks, bonds, CDs, but not your home or car. Income may be higher if some of the income is earned income.

· If you qualify, you will get help paying for your drug plan’s monthly premium, deductable and for some of the co-pays of your prescriptions. The type of extra help will be based on income and assets.

Senior Prescription Drug Program from the State of Maryland

 If your income or assets are too high to qualify for the low income subsidy (LIS), or if you qualify for only partial extra help, you may be eligible for the Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program (SPDAP) from the State of Maryland. This program pays up to $25 per month for Medicare Part D premium, but does not help with the cost of co-pays or deductibles. To be eligible for the $25 Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program premium assistance, the income should be below $30,630 a year ($2,552.50 a month) for a single person, and $41, 070 per year ($3,422 per month) for a couple. Income is the only consideration for this program, the amount of assets do not count in determining eligibility.