The partial tier is gone
For years, Extra Help had two levels: a full subsidy and a smaller partial subsidy for people with slightly higher income or resources. The Inflation Reduction Act eliminated the partial tier effective 2024. Now there is a single full subsidy — if you qualify, you get the complete benefit.
That matters for two reasons. First, the benefit is more valuable for people who would previously have landed in the partial tier. Second, the eligibility line is now drawn at 150% of the Federal Poverty Level for the full subsidy, which brought in people who used to fall just outside full eligibility.
What full Extra Help looks like in 2026
- No Part D premium (up to your region’s benchmark)
- No yearly deductible ($0)
- Copays capped at $5.10 (generic) and $12.65 (brand)
- $0 covered drugs after $2,100 out-of-pocket for the year
If you were turned down before
If you applied a few years ago and were found ineligible, or were only granted partial help, it is worth checking again. The expanded limits and the elimination of the partial tier mean some people who didn’t qualify before do now. Run the eligibility check with your current numbers, and remember that your state’s Medicare Savings Programmay qualify you even if the federal figures don’t.
The dollar limits on this site are the 2026 figures published by CMS and SSA. They are updated each year; see our methodology and sources for how and when we refresh them.