Help Paying for Medicare: Extra Help and Savings Programs
If money is tight, you may be leaving real help on the table. Several programs cut Medicare costs for people with limited income — and a lot of Kentuckians who qualify never apply because they don't know these exist. Here are the big ones for 2026.
Extra Help (the Part D Low-Income Subsidy)
Extra Help slashes your prescription drug costs. If you qualify, it pays your Part D premium (up to a benchmark), drops your deductible to $0, and caps your copays. For 2026:
- Income: at or below about $23,475 (single) or $31,725 (married couple).
- Resources: at or below about $18,090 (single) or $36,100 (married) — not counting your home or car.
- What you pay: small, capped copays (roughly $5 generic / $13 brand in 2026), and $0 for covered drugs once you reach the yearly cap.
Apply free through Social Security at ssa.gov/extrahelp or 1-800-772-1213.
Medicare Savings Programs (help with Part B)
These programs (you apply through Kentucky Medicaid) pay your Part B premium — and the most generous one pays your deductibles and copays too. There are three common tiers, roughly by monthly income:
- QMB — pays your Part B premium and Medicare deductibles and coinsurance. 2026 income around $1,325/month (single) or $1,783 (couple).
- SLMB — pays your Part B premium. Income up to about $1,478 (single) / $1,992 (couple).
- QI — pays your Part B premium. Income up to about $1,660 (single) / $2,239 (couple).
Asset limits for 2026 are about $9,090 (single) and $13,630 (married). Qualifying for QMB, SLMB, or QI also automatically qualifies you for Extra Help.
Full Medicaid ("dual eligible")
If your income is low enough, you may qualify for full Kentucky Medicaid alongside Medicare — what's called "dual eligible." That can cover costs Medicare doesn't, and opens the door to special D-SNP plans built for dual members.
Common questions
What is Extra Help for Medicare?
Extra Help (the Part D Low-Income Subsidy) lowers prescription drug costs — it pays your Part D premium up to a benchmark, drops the deductible to $0, and caps your copays. For 2026, income limits are about $23,475 (single) and $31,725 (married).
What do the Medicare Savings Programs cover?
They pay your Part B premium; the QMB level also covers Medicare deductibles and copays. You apply through Kentucky Medicaid, and qualifying also gets you Extra Help.
What are the income limits in 2026?
For Extra Help, about $23,475 (single) / $31,725 (married). For the Savings Programs, roughly $1,325–$1,660/month (single) depending on the tier, with asset limits around $9,090 (single) / $13,630 (married). Limits update annually.
How do I apply in Kentucky?
Apply for Extra Help at ssa.gov/extrahelp or 1-800-772-1213, and for the Savings Programs through Kentucky Medicaid. Free, unbiased help is available from Kentucky SHIP at 1-877-293-7447.
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This article is general information, not advice for your specific situation, and program rules and figures change every year. 2026 figures are from CMS, the Social Security Administration, and federal poverty guidelines; eligibility limits typically update annually. Tyler Insurance Group is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. For complete details, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.