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Understanding Medicare

What is the Medicare Extra Help Program?

October 1, 2022
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At CCA, we believe that our members should have access to the care they need. But we know healthcare can be expensive—especially for those on a fixed income. That’s why we want you to know that you may qualify for Extra Help to help pay for your prescription costs and lower your monthly plan payment.

What is Extra Help?

Extra Help is a government program for people who have a limited income. If you qualify for Extra Help, you could pay a lower copayment for your prescription drugs.1

How do you qualify for Extra Help?

To start, answer these 3 questions.

  1. Are you enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B and is your annual income below $21,870 in 2023 ($29,580 for couples)?
  2. Are your assets/resources valued at less than $16,660 ($33,240 for couples)?
  3. Are you enrolled in Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or a Medicare Savings Program (MSP)?

 If you answered YES to any of these questions, you may qualify for Extra Help.

When can you enroll for coverage if you qualify for Extra Help?

If you qualify for Extra Help, your status will trigger a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) and you can enroll or switch to a CCA Medicare (PPO) plan during either:

OR

When you’re approved for Extra Help, you may pay a lower copayment for your prescriptions AND a lower monthly payment for a CCA Medicare plan. Once you are approved for Extra Help, you will receive a letter explaining how much you will pay.

Find out if you qualify for Extra Help:

To learn more about the Extra Help program, visit SSA.gov and search “Extra Help” OR call Social Security at 800-772-1213 (TTY 800-325-0778), from 7 am to 7 pm, Monday-Friday.

Want to learn more about CCA Medicare plans?

Our plans provide a range of benefits to help you stay healthy and live independently at home. Once you’re enrolled in Extra Help, you may get CCA plan benefits for a reduced monthly plan payment based on your level of subsidy.

1www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/prescriptionhelp.html

This article was originally posted on October 1, 2021 and updated in October 2023.

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