If you qualify for extra help (the low-income subsidy, (LIS) in paying for your Medicare prescription drug coverage costs, your Medicare prescription drug plan's monthly premium, deductibles (if applicable), and prescriptions copayments could be lowered.

2009 To qualify, your yearly income is limited to $16,245 for an individual or $21,855 for a married couple living together. These amounts are for 2009 and may increase in 2010.  2010 LIS Chart

If your income and resources are slightly higher, you should still apply. You may still qualify if you meet one of the following conditions:

• You or your spouse support other family members who live with you.
• You or your spouse have earnings from work.
• You or your spouse live in Alaska or Hawaii.

Your resources are limited to $12,510 for an individual or $25,010 for a married couple living together. Resources include your savings and stocks but not your home or car.

If you currently have an Employer/Union health plan or a State Pharmacy Assistance Program (SPAP) it will not affect the help you receive paying for the prescriptions drugs.

The above charts show you what your monthly plan premium will be if you get this subsidy. The premiums listed above include both your medical and prescription drug coverage.

If you aren't getting extra help, you can see if you qualify by calling 1-866-403-8293 (TDD/TTY 1-800-346-4128) 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Monday through Sunday.

If you believe you qualify for extra help, click here to review more information on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website.

You may also call the following organizations to see if you qualify:

• Medicare:  1-800-Medicare or 1-800-633-4227
  (TTY/TDD: 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
• Social Security Administration: 1-800-772-1213
  (TTY/TDD: 1-800-325-0778 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• Utah’s Medicaid office: 1-801-538-6155 (Salt Lake City area);
  1-800-662-9651 (other parts of state) (TTY/TDD:  not available) Monday – Wednesday, 7 a.m.-noon and 1-6 p.m. and Thursday 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.   www.health.utah.gov/medicaid