01

What Medicare Extra Help is designed to pay

Extra Help assists eligible people with Part D premiums, deductibles and drug cost-sharing. Medicare drug guide Some qualify automatically, while others need to apply. Medicare drug guide The rules are different from PAAD, Senior Gold and Medicare Savings Programs. Medicare drug guide

02

Income and resources for New Jersey applicants in 2026

Medicare publishes these general screening limits for the contiguous states and Washington, DC. Medicare drug guide Income and resource exclusions can affect eligibility. Medicare drug guide Ask Social Security to evaluate the actual situation rather than treating a table as a final decision. Medicare drug guide

Household (2026)Annual income limitResource limit
Individual$23,940$18,090
Married couple$32,460$36,100

Confirm current rules with Medicare drug guide.

03

Understand what the resource figure means

The published limits include the applicable burial-expense allowance. Social Security Extra Help rules A home, one car and certain personal items are excluded, while cash and many financial accounts can count. Social Security Extra Help rules Review the official resource rules instead of adding every possession together. Social Security Extra Help rules

04

Drug copayments under Extra Help in 2026

The published maximum is $5.10 for a generic and $12.65 for a brand-name drug (2026). Medicare drug guide Covered-drug cost-sharing becomes $0 after eligible out-of-pocket spending reaches $2,100 (2026). Medicare drug guide Certain payments made on your behalf count toward that threshold. Medicare drug guide

05

A premium subsidy has a benchmark limit

Extra Help’s premium subsidy is limited by the applicable regional benchmark. Social Security subsidy rules Choosing a plan with a higher premium can leave an amount for you to pay. Social Security subsidy rules Confirm the exact plan premium rather than assuming every plan costs nothing. Social Security subsidy rules

06

Check whether you qualify automatically

Full-benefit Medicaid, state help paying Part B premiums through a Medicare Savings Program, or SSI can create automatic Extra Help qualification. Medicare.gov Read the official notice so you know what has been approved. Medicare.gov A private plan advertisement is not that notice. Medicare.gov

07

If you need to apply

Use Social Security’s official Extra Help process or the appropriate NJSave pathway. Keep income, resource and coverage information in a secure place. Do not submit financial records to this website.

Ask what household information is needed if you live with a spouse. If you work or support other household members, ask how those facts affect the screening. A general limit alone may not settle the question.

Keep a copy of the application confirmation and any request for extra evidence. Follow the official response deadline. This website cannot see an application or tell you whether it was accepted.

08

Keep coverage questions on the same page

Extra Help does not remove the need to review your exact drugs and pharmacy. Use the Part D guide for that comparison. If a medicine is not listed or has a restriction, ask the plan about the appropriate process.

Also review PAAD and Senior Gold if you are considering New Jersey assistance. Each program can involve different coordination rules. Confirm the approved arrangement instead of assuming benefits can simply be added together.

For annual changes, keep your eligibility notice beside the plan-review checklist. A clear record of both decisions helps you learn an unexpected pharmacy bill.

09

Keep the decision notice for later questions

When a decision arrives, save it with the application record. Read the dates and any next steps. If you need a clearer answer, use the official contact on the notice. Do not send a copy through this website.

10

Keep a drug-cost question separate from a status question

A question about whether help has been approved is not the same as a question about a pharmacy charge. Write down which one you need answered first. Keep the date and any related notice nearby.

Ask the office or plan which part it can check. If you need to speak with the pharmacy too, note why. Do not use a single charge as proof that a program has approved or denied your request.