Extra Help Income Limits 2026: Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy
The 2026 income and resource limits for Extra Help, the Medicare Part D low-income subsidy, what it pays, and a calculator that counts your income the way Social Security does.
To get Extra Help with Medicare drug costs in 2026, your countable income must be below $23,940 a year ($1,995 a month) if you are single, or below $32,460 ($2,705 a month) for a married couple living together, and your resources must be no more than $18,090 ($36,100 for a couple) if you expect to use some of them for burial expenses, or $16,590 ($33,100) if not (Medicare.gov, Help with drug costs (Extra Help limits for 2026); CMS, CY 2026 Resource and Cost-Sharing Limits for Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) (31 October 2025)). With Extra Help you pay no deductible, at most $5.10 for a generic and $12.65 for a brand-name drug, and nothing once your drug costs reach $2,100.
Official Every figure on this page is published by the responsible agency; none is a projection.
| Household size | 48 states and DC | Alaska | Hawaii |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (single) | $23,940$1,995 a month | $29,925 | $27,540 |
| 2 (married couple) | $32,460$2,705 a month | $40,575 | $37,335 |
| 3 | $40,980$3,415 a month | $51,225 | $47,130 |
| 4 | $49,500$4,125 a month | $61,875 | $56,925 |
| 5 | $58,020$4,835 a month | $72,525 | $66,720 |
| 6 | $66,540$5,545 a month | $83,175 | $76,515 |
Medicare.gov publishes the one- and two-person lines ($23,940 and $32,460; Alaska $29,925 and $40,575; Hawaii $27,540 and $37,335) (Medicare.gov, Help with drug costs (Extra Help limits for 2026)). Each is 150% of the 2026 HHS poverty guideline, and the rule is the same for larger households: income below 150% of the guideline for your family size, where the family is you, a spouse you live with, and relatives living with you who depend on you for at least half their support (42 CFR §423.773 (eligibility: income below 150% of the poverty line; deemed groups); 42 CFR §423.772 (income, resources and family size for the low-income subsidy)).
What counts as income
SSA counts income the way it does for Supplemental Security Income, for you and a spouse you live with (42 CFR §423.772 (income, resources and family size for the low-income subsidy)): Social Security before the Part B premium is taken out, pensions, annuities, IRA withdrawals, wages and other income. Then it leaves out the first $20 a month (one $20 for a couple), $65 a month of earnings and half of the earnings above that (20 CFR §416.1124 (unearned income not counted: the first $20); 20 CFR §416.1112 (earned income not counted: $65 and one half of the rest); SSA POMS SI 00810.420, the $20 general income exclusion). SSA’s own 2026 example: $1,300 a month of Social Security and a $550 pension are $22,200 a year; less 12 × $20 that is $21,960 of countable income, under the $23,940 line, so that person qualifies (SSA POMS HI 03020.055, Income limits for subsidy eligibility (2026 example)).
The resource limit
| 2025, with burial funds | 2026, with burial funds | 2026, without | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $17,600 | $18,090 | $16,590 |
| Married, living together | $35,130 | $36,100 | $33,100 |
Resources are money in checking, savings and retirement accounts, stocks and bonds; your home, one car, a burial plot, up to $1,500 set aside for burial, furniture and household items do not count (Medicare.gov, Help with drug costs (Extra Help limits for 2026); 42 CFR §423.772 (income, resources and family size for the low-income subsidy)). The higher limit applies when you tell SSA you expect to use some of your resources for burial (CMS, CY 2026 Resource and Cost-Sharing Limits for Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) (31 October 2025)).
What you pay with Extra Help
| Who | Deductible | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Medicaid, in an institution or receiving home and community-based services | $0 | $0.00 / $0.00 | $0.00 / $0.00 |
| Full Medicaid, income at or below 100% of the poverty line | $0 | $1.60 / $4.90 | $1.65 / $5.00 |
| Everyone else with Extra Help (full Medicaid above 100%, a Medicare Savings Program, SSI, or approved on application) | $0 | $5.10 / $12.65 | $5.80 / $14.40 |
The premium subsidy covers the plan premium up to the regional low-income benchmark, so a plan priced at or below the benchmark costs you no premium (42 U.S.C. §1395w-114 (premium and cost-sharing subsidies)). After your drug costs reach $2,100 in 2026 you pay nothing for covered drugs (CMS, CY 2026 Resource and Cost-Sharing Limits for Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) (31 October 2025)). With Extra Help there is no Part D late-enrollment penalty, you may be able to change drug plans once a month, and once you qualify you keep the help through December 31 even if your income changes (Medicare.gov, Help with drug costs (Extra Help limits for 2026); Medicare.gov, Medicare costs (what you pay in 2026)).
Who gets it automatically, and how to apply
You get Extra Help without applying if you have full Medicaid, a Medicare Savings Program paying your Part B premium (QMB, SLMB or QI), or Supplemental Security Income (Medicare.gov, Help with drug costs (Extra Help limits for 2026); 42 CFR §423.773 (eligibility: income below 150% of the poverty line; deemed groups)). Everyone else applies to Social Security (SSA, Apply for Extra Help); the application also starts a Medicare Savings Program application with your state unless you say no (Medicare.gov, Help with drug costs (Extra Help limits for 2026)). Extra Help is not available in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands or American Samoa. Medicare Savings Program limits 2026 → What Part D costs without Extra Help in 2026 →
Check your 2026 Extra Help income and resources
Income other than work: Social Security before the Part B premium is deducted, pensions, annuities, IRA withdrawals, interest. For a couple, enter both spouses’ amounts together. A screen against the federal rules, not SSA’s decision.
Retirement income decides more than your tax bill: it decides which Medicare help you qualify for. QuantCalc runs your whole retirement — Social Security, withdrawals, taxes, Medicare surcharges — year by year.
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What are the Extra Help income limits for 2026?
Income below $23,940 a year ($1,995 a month) for one person and below $32,460 ($2,705 a month) for a married couple living together; Alaska $29,925 / $40,575, Hawaii $27,540 / $37,335 (Medicare.gov, Help with drug costs (Extra Help limits for 2026)). That is 150% of the 2026 poverty guideline (42 CFR §423.773 (eligibility: income below 150% of the poverty line; deemed groups)).
What is the low-income subsidy (LIS) limit for 2026?
The low-income subsidy is the official name of Extra Help: income below 150% of the poverty line ($23,940 single, $32,460 couple) and resources of at most $16,590 ($33,100 married), or $18,090 ($36,100) with burial funds (CMS, CY 2026 Resource and Cost-Sharing Limits for Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) (31 October 2025)).
What are the Extra Help resource limits for 2026?
$18,090 for one person and $36,100 for a married couple, including $1,500 each for burial expenses; $16,590 and $33,100 without it. In 2025 they were $17,600 and $35,130 (CMS, CY 2026 Resource and Cost-Sharing Limits for Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) (31 October 2025)).
How much are Extra Help copays in 2026?
At most $5.10 for a generic and $12.65 for a brand-name drug, with no deductible; $1.60 / $4.90 with full Medicaid and income at or below the poverty line, and $0 in a nursing home. Nothing after $2,100 of drug costs (CMS, CY 2026 Resource and Cost-Sharing Limits for Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) (31 October 2025)). For 2027 the top copays rise to $5.80 / $14.40 (CMS, CY 2027 Rate Announcement (6 April 2026), Table V-2 Part D benefit parameters).
Is Social Security counted as income for Extra Help?
Yes, before the Part B premium is deducted. SSA leaves out the first $20 a month of income, and $65 plus half of the rest of monthly earnings (SSA POMS HI 03020.055, Income limits for subsidy eligibility (2026 example); 20 CFR §416.1112 (earned income not counted: $65 and one half of the rest)).
What are the Medicare income limits for 2026?
Two different lines. For help paying drug costs, Extra Help needs countable income below $23,940 (single) or $32,460 (couple) (Medicare.gov, Help with drug costs (Extra Help limits for 2026)). At the other end, the income-related surcharge (IRMAA) on Part B and Part D starts when 2024 modified adjusted gross income is over $109,000 (single) or $218,000 (joint) (CMS, 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles (14 November 2025)). The Medicare Savings Programs, which pay Part B premiums, have their own limits set with each state (Medicare.gov, Help with drug costs (Extra Help limits for 2026)).
Who gets Extra Help automatically?
People with full Medicaid, a Medicare Savings Program (QMB, SLMB or QI) or Supplemental Security Income (Medicare.gov, Help with drug costs (Extra Help limits for 2026)). Everyone else applies through Social Security (SSA, Apply for Extra Help).
Sources
- Medicare.gov, Help with drug costs (Extra Help limits for 2026)
- CMS, CY 2026 Resource and Cost-Sharing Limits for Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) (31 October 2025)
- CMS, CY 2027 Rate Announcement (6 April 2026), Table V-2 Part D benefit parameters
- HHS poverty guidelines for 2026 (91 FR 1797, 15 January 2026)
- 42 CFR §423.773 (eligibility: income below 150% of the poverty line; deemed groups)
- 42 CFR §423.772 (income, resources and family size for the low-income subsidy)
- 42 U.S.C. §1395w-114 (premium and cost-sharing subsidies)
- 20 CFR §416.1124 (unearned income not counted: the first $20)
- 20 CFR §416.1112 (earned income not counted: $65 and one half of the rest)
- SSA POMS SI 00810.420, the $20 general income exclusion
- SSA POMS HI 03020.055, Income limits for subsidy eligibility (2026 example)
- SSA, Apply for Extra Help
Every figure on this page is read at build time from one dataset and was checked against the text of the documents above on October 11, 2026. Every figure with its source: JSON. QuantCalc is calculation software, not tax, legal or benefits advice.
Related
Medicare Part D 2026 costs → Every 2026 Medicare cost → 2026 poverty guidelines → Late-enrollment penalty calculator → Medicare open enrollment 2026 dates →