Several programs provide financial assistance to people with limited resources or certain diseases. They can help pay Medicare premiums, deductibles, copayments and prescription drug costs.

Here’s how the programs work and how to find out if you’re eligible.

State-run Medicare Savings Programs can help people with low incomes pay their Part B premiums. Some of these programs can also help pay Part A premiums for those who aren’t eligible for free Part A. They may cover deductibles, coinsurance and copayments.
 

To be eligible for a Medicare Savings Program, your income — and sometimes your savings — must be below certain limits, which vary by state. These limits are generally higher than those required to qualify for Medicaid, and some states don’t count your savings.
 

Certain assets are never included in the calculation, such as your primary residence, one car, household goods and life insurance with a cash value of less than $1,500. Some states may exclude other assets while other states don’t set asset limits to be eligible for their Medicare Savings Programs.
 

The subsidies can help you pay your Part A premiums if you have them and Part B premiums, whether you have original Medicare or Medicare Advantage.
 

People who are 65 and older and younger adults with disabilities who are enrolled in Medicare but don’t qualify for Medicaid also may be eligible for the following programs. (The income limits are slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii.):

• The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program pays your premiums, deductibles, coinsurance and copayments for Parts A and B and Medicare Advantage plans. For those in original Medicare, it operates like a Medigap plan. In most states, you can qualify if your gross monthly income in 2023 doesn’t exceed $1,235 for individuals or $1,663 for couples. And in most states, individuals can’t have more than $9,090 in assets and couples can’t have more than $13,630 in assets.

• The Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary Program pays Part B premiums. In most states, you can qualify if your gross monthly income in 2023 doesn’t exceed $1,478 for individuals and $1,992 for couples. And in most states, individuals can’t have more than $9,090 in assets and couples can’t have more than $13,630 in assets.

• The Qualifying Individual Program pays Part B premiums with a slightly higher income limit than the Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary Program. In most states, you can qualify if your gross monthly income in 2023 doesn’t exceed $1,660 for individuals and $2,239 for couples. And in most states, individuals can’t have more than $9,090 in assets and couples can’t have more than $13,630 in assets.
 

In addition to these benefits, if you qualify for any of the three Medicare Savings Programs above, you’re automatically eligible for Extra Help, which helps cover Part D prescription drug plan premiums and out-of-pocket costs. If you receive a late enrollment penalty for Part B, it Extra Help will waive it.

A fourth Medicare Savings Program, the Qualified Disabled Working Individuals Program, is designed specifically for people with disabilities who have returned to work, lost Social Security disability benefits and don’t qualify for premium-free Part A of Medicare because they’re working again. In most states, its monthly income limits in 2023 are $4,945 for individuals, $6,659 for couples. Its asset limits in most states are $4,000 for individuals and $6,000 for couples.

To find out if you qualify for a Medicare Savings Program, contact your local Medicaid office or State Health Insurance Assistance Program or call 800-MEDICARE.
 

Application requirements vary by state, but you usually need to provide proof of income and information about your assets. If you apply for the Extra Help program (more details on that below), it will automatically forward your application to your state to determine whether you qualify for a Medicare Savings Program, unless you specify otherwise.

Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands don’t have Medicare Savings Programs. But Medicaid, which provides health insurance to people with low incomes, may be able to assist.
 

For more information about Medicaid in Puerto Rico, visit Medicaid.pr.gov. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, Medicaid is called the Medical Assistance Program.

If you need assistance paying the premiums, deductibles and copayments for Part D prescription drug plans, you can apply for a federal program called Extra Help.
 

To qualify in 2023, your savings, investments and real estate — not counting the home you live in — must be worth less than $33,240 if you’re married and living with your spouse or $16,660 if you’re not married or not living with your spouse.
 

For Extra Help, you won’t need to include these items in your calculations: your home, vehicles, personal possessions, life insurance, burial plots, irrevocable burial contracts or certain back payments from Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Extra Help has a broader number of items that can be excluded from the asset limit than the Medicare Savings Programs, including having more than one vehicle.

For more information about eligibility, see the Social Security Administration publication Understanding the Extra Help With Your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. Note that you’ll automatically qualify for the program if you have Medicare and SSI benefits or Medicaid coverage.
 

If you qualify for Extra Help, you'll also need to enroll in a Part D prescription drug plan. If you don’t choose a plan, Medicare will enroll you in one automatically. Check the Medicare Plan Finder to find a plan that covers your medications.

1. Gather the following documents:

• Social Security card
• Bank account statements
• IRA and investment statements
• Pay stubs
• Tax returns
• Your most recent Social Security benefits award letters or statements for Railroad Retirement benefits, Veterans Affairs benefits, pensions and annuities. You don’t have to submit these documents unless a Social Security representative contacts you.
 

2. Use the online application and select "Apply Now."