Prescription Drug Assistance
There's more help out there than most people know about — and much of it is free to ask for.
From the protections built into every Medicare drug plan, to Extra Help, state programs and drug-maker assistance, here's every major way to lower what you pay at the pharmacy — and how to find out if you qualify.
Five Ways to Pay Less
The first one applies to everyone. The rest depend on your situation.
The cap, $35 insulin, $0 vaccines and lower negotiated prices.
Federal help that can cut drug costs to a few dollars.
State drug programs and free local Medicare counselors.
Patient assistance programs and charitable foundations.
Simple steps that lower costs with the plan you have.
Way 1 Built In
You have these just by having Medicare drug coverage
Whether your drug coverage comes from a stand-alone Part D plan or is built into a Medicare Advantage plan, these protections apply. You don't have to apply for any of them.
Once you've paid $2,100 out of pocket for covered drugs in 2026, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year. In 2027 the cap is $2,400.
You pay no more than $35 for a month's supply of each covered insulin product — and there's no deductible on it.
Adult vaccines recommended by the CDC's advisory committee, like the shingles vaccine, cost nothing under Part D.
Medicare now negotiates prices on some of its most costly drugs. The first 10 took effect January 1, 2026 — including several common heart, diabetes and blood-thinner medicines. 15 more follow on January 1, 2027.
The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you pay your drug costs in monthly amounts instead of all at once at the counter. It doesn't lower the total — but it can turn one large January bill into smaller, steadier payments. It's free; call your plan to sign up.
Enter what you expect to pay out of pocket for covered drugs next year. We'll show the rough monthly amount if you spread it out from January.
Educational estimate. Uses the 2027 cap of $2,400. Actual monthly amounts are set by your plan and change as you fill prescriptions during the year.
Way 2 Extra Help
The most valuable program most people never apply for
Extra Help — also called the Low-Income Subsidy — is a federal program that lowers your drug plan premium, deductible and copays. It's run through Social Security, and applying is free.
| Single | Married, living together | |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly income below about | $23,940 | $32,460 |
| Savings & resources below | $18,090 | $36,100 |
Your home, one car, and personal belongings don't count as resources. Limits can be higher in Alaska and Hawaii, and if you support other family members. Even if you're a little over, apply — Social Security makes the final decision.
Three quick answers. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.
A rough screening based on 2026 limits, for education only. Only Social Security can decide if you qualify.
If you have full Medicaid, get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or are in a Medicare Savings Program, you automatically qualify for Extra Help. Look for a purple letter from Medicare. Extra Help members also get more chances during the year to change drug plans.
Prefer the phone? Social Security: 1-800-772-1213
Way 3 Your State
Help that depends on where you live
Some states run their own drug assistance programs, called State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs). Every state also has a free Medicare counseling program (SHIP) that can check what you qualify for.
New York's Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program works alongside your Part D plan. If you're 65+, live in New York and have income up to $75,000 (single) or $100,000 (married), EPIC can lower your copays to about $3–$20 per prescription.
EPIC helpline: 1-800-332-3742
These states don't have a broad drug program for all seniors like EPIC, but they do offer Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs and some programs for specific conditions.
Your free state SHIP counselor — SHINE in Florida, SHIIP in North Carolina, HICAP in Texas — can check everything you may qualify for.
Run by each state's Medicaid office, these programs can pay your Part B premium — and qualifying for one also signs you up for Extra Help automatically. Income limits are higher than many people expect, and some states don't count savings at all.
Way 4 Drug Makers & Charities
For costly brand-name medicines
Many drug companies run Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) that give their own medicines free or at low cost to people who qualify. Independent charitable foundations also help with costs for certain conditions.
Each company sets its own rules, usually based on income. Your doctor's office often fills out part of the form. Search the drug's name plus "patient assistance program," or go to the company's website.
Independent nonprofits help pay copays for specific conditions — like cancer, diabetes or heart disease. Funds open and close during the year, so check often and ask your doctor's office which ones they know.
The drug-maker coupons you see advertised on TV generally can't be used with a Medicare drug plan. Patient Assistance Programs and charitable foundations are different — Medicare members can use those.
You can use a discount card instead of your Part D plan for a single purchase — sometimes it's cheaper for a low-cost generic. But what you pay that way doesn't count toward your deductible or yearly cap. Compare both prices at the counter.
Way 5 Smart Moves
No application needed
These don't depend on your income. A few minutes with your doctor, pharmacist or plan can make a real difference.
Questions Plain Answers
No. Applying for Extra Help doesn't lower your Social Security check. It's free to apply and you can do it online, by phone, or at a local Social Security office.
It counts what you pay for drugs on your plan's list (formulary) through your Part D or Medicare Advantage drug coverage. Drugs not on your plan's list, and anything you buy with a discount card instead of your plan, don't count. Your monthly premium doesn't count either.
The negotiated prices cover a specific list of drugs — 10 starting in 2026 and 15 more in 2027. Your plan's drug list and your Annual Notice of Change show what you'll pay for each of your medicines, which is what matters most.
Yes, if your Medicare Advantage plan includes drug coverage (most do). The yearly cap, $35 insulin, $0 recommended vaccines, Extra Help and the Prescription Payment Plan all apply.
Be careful. Real programs don't call out of the blue asking for your Medicare number, Social Security number or bank information. Hang up and contact Social Security, Medicare (1-800-633-4227), your state SHIP, or the drug company directly.
Asking for help is smart. It's what these programs are for.
Start with Extra Help and your state's free counselors, then compare drug plans using your own medicines — at your own pace.
Every program on this page is free to apply for.
We send you to SSA.gov, Medicare.gov and your state — not to a sales line.
The checkers on this page don't save or send anything.