: For 2026, most enrollees will pay no more than $5.10 for generic drugs and $12.65 for brand-name drugs [24].
The application, often called "Extra Help," offers several features designed to simplify access to financial assistance for prescription drugs. Key Application Features
An approved LIS application can provide significant savings, estimated at an average value of [17]. These features include:
: Unlike standard Medicare plans, you can apply for the LIS at any time during the year [7].
: Once your application is approved, you gain a Special Enrollment Period, allowing you to join or switch your Medicare drug plan once per calendar quarter [7, 8]. Financial Benefits
: If you are eligible for Extra Help, you will not have to pay a late enrollment penalty for Part D [8, 10].
: Applying online through platforms like the BenefitsCheckUp allows you to be simultaneously screened for other state benefits, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and state pharmaceutical assistance [13].
: It can eliminate or significantly reduce Part D premiums and annual deductibles [17, 24].