California Health Advocates

How to Qualify for Extra Help/Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) with Part D Costs

California Health Advocates > Prescription Drugs > How to Qualify for Extra Help/Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) with Part D Costs

Eligibility for Extra Help/LIS for 2022

You are automatically enrolled in a drug plan with the Extra Help/Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program for 2022 if you qualify for Medi-Cal or a certain type of Medicare Savings Program (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary, Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary or Qualified Individual program). The chart below explains what you will pay for your Part D coverage depending on the Medi-Cal and/or Medicare Savings Program (MSP) program for which you qualify, assuming you are enrolled in a benchmark plan.

You have…
Your Assets Are at or Below…1You Pay
Medi-Cal without a Share of Cost (SOC). This includes the Aged & Disabled Federal Poverty Level program (A&D FPL).

Medi-Cal with a SOC and your SOC is met in any one month.

Single: $2,000

Couple: $3,000


Note: As of July 1, 2022, the resource limit will be $130,000 for an individual, and $65,000 for each additional family member.
  • No monthly premium
  • No annual deductible
  • Copayments of $1.35/generic and $4.00/brand name
The above applies until the end of the year if SOC is met before July 1. If SOC is met between July 1 and Dec 31, Extra Help remains until Dec of following year.

Note: If you have Medi-Cal and are living in a nursing home or are receiving Medi-Cal Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), you will have no drug copayments.

a Medicare Savings Program, such as Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), Specified Low-Income Beneficiary (SLMB) or Qualified Individual (QI) program.

Single: $8,400

Couple: $12,600

  • No monthly premium
  • No annual deductible
  • Copayments of $3.95/generic and $9.85/brand
    • name. No copayments during catastrophic coverage.

1 Asset limit does not include the allowed amount for burial expenses: Single, $1,500; Couple, $3,000. Note that for Medi-Cal, this $1,500 per person for burial expenses cannot be in a bank account. It must be invested in a burial policy.

If you do not meet the qualifications in the chart above, you can apply1 for the Extra Help/LIS through the Social Security Administration if you meet the qualifications in the chart below. You will not automatically be enrolled in the LIS program.

Your Income Is Below… (Note: does not include the $20 disregard.)Your Assets Are at or Below2…You Pay
135% of the FPL:

 

  • Single: $1,530/mo., $18,347/yr.
  • Couple: $2,061/mo., $24,719/yr.
Single: $9,900

Couple: $15,600
  • No monthly premium
  • No annual deductible
  • Copayments of $3.95/generic and $9.85/brand name
135% of the FPL:

 

  • Single: $1,530/mo., $18,347/yr.
  • Couple: $2,061/mo., $24,719/yr.
Single: $15,510

Couple: $30,950

  • No monthly premium
  • $99 annual deductible
  • 15% coinsurance; copayments up to $3.95/generic and $9.85/brand-name during catastrophic coverage
150% of the FPL:

 

  • Single: $1,700/mo., $20,385/yr.
  • Couple: $2,289/mo., $27,465/yr.
Single: $15,510

Couple: $30,950
  • Sliding-scale monthly premiums
  • $99 annual deductible
  • 15% coinsurance; copayments up to $3.95/generic and $9.85/brand-name during catastrophic coverage

1You must also enroll in a Medicare Part D drug plan if you qualify for Extra Help/LIS.
2 Asset limit includes the allowed amount for burial expenses: Single, $1,500; Couple, $3,000. Note that for LIS, this exempt $1,500 per person for burial expenses can be in a bank account.