SSA Notifies Over 850,000 ZIP Codes of Medicare Financial Assistance in 2025
In 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) reached out to residents in over 850,000 ZIP codes to inform them about Medicare programs that provide financial assistance for medical and prescription drug costs. These programs include Extra Help, which assists with Medicare Part D expenses such as premiums, deductibles, and copayments. Despite the availability of these benefits, many eligible individuals have not applied, potentially due to unawareness or misconceptions about income eligibility.
Extra Help offers substantial aid, potentially providing up to $6,200 annually per person to reduce prescription drug expenses. Eligibility criteria are based on specific income and resource limits, which vary by state, with higher thresholds for residents in Alaska and Hawaii. Besides Extra Help, there are Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) funded by the federal government and administered through Medicaid at the state level, which help cover costs for various parts of Medicare.
Furthermore, many Medicare beneficiaries have access to Medicare Advantage plans that often include additional benefits beyond Original Medicare, such as dental, hearing, fitness, and vision coverage. The availability of these benefits depends on the beneficiary’s ZIP code, and the Medicare plan finder tool is a valuable resource to explore these options.
The SSA also collaborates with community and local organizations by sharing mailing information to ensure that outreach efforts effectively target individuals who could benefit from these programs. The ongoing underutilization of these benefits highlights the importance of outreach and education to assist eligible populations in accessing cost-saving opportunities.
With significant financial support available through Extra Help and MSPs, Medicare beneficiaries with limited income should consider applying, even if they believe their income may exceed eligibility limits. These programs provide critical relief by lowering premiums and out-of-pocket costs, thereby improving access and affordability of necessary medical and prescription services.