What if I cannot afford to pay for my prescriptions?

If you can’t afford to pay for your prescriptions, you should check to see if you are eligible for the program called Extra Help through Medicare. People who qualify for the largest amount of Extra Help pay nothing for their Medicare drug plan premium and deductible, and only $2.50 per generic prescription ($6.30 per brand-name prescription) for their covered drugs. Other people pay only a portion of their Medicare drug plan premiums and deductibles based on their income level.

Some states have State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs) that help people pay prescription drug costs. Each SPAP has different rules about eligibility, how to apply and how it works with Medicare prescription drug coverage. For information, contact the SPAP in your state.