Medicare's Extra Help Program in Hubbard, OhioRequest a callback and a licensed Ohio agent will reach out — usually within 24 hours.

What Exactly Is the 'Extra Help' Program?

The Extra Help program, also known as the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS), is a federal initiative administered by the Social Security Administration. Its sole purpose is to help people with limited income and resources pay for the costs of their Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. It’s not a separate insurance plan itself, but rather a financial assistance program that works alongside the Part D plan you choose, whether that’s a stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage (MA-PD).

This assistance can be significant. For those who qualify, Extra Help can pay for some or all of the monthly premium for their Part D plan. It also lowers the annual deductible and dramatically reduces the copayments or coinsurance you owe when you fill a prescription at your pharmacy. For many people in Hubbard, this can mean reducing a $45 copay for a certain medication to just a few dollars. The program sets a maximum copay amount for generic and brand-name drugs, providing predictable and manageable costs throughout the year. For people taking multiple medications, the savings can amount to hundreds or even thousands of dollars annually.

2026 Extra Help Income and Asset Limits (Estimated)

To qualify for Extra Help, you must meet certain limits for your income and your financial resources. These limits are updated each year. The figures for 2026 are not yet official, but based on previous years' adjustments, we can provide some conservative estimates to help you see if you might be eligible.

For 2026, it is estimated that an individual might qualify with an annual income under approximately $23,000, and a married couple living together might qualify with a combined annual income under about $31,000. These income figures include money from work, Social Security benefits, pensions, and withdrawals from retirement accounts.

In addition to income, there are limits on countable resources. For 2026, we estimate these limits will be around $17,500 for an individual and $35,000 for a married couple. Resources include things like money in checking or savings accounts, stocks, and bonds. Importantly, many things do NOT count as resources. Social Security and the state of Ohio do not count the value of your primary home, one car, personal possessions, furniture, or burial plots. Life insurance policies may also be excluded depending on their value. A recent expansion of the program has made it easier for more people to qualify for the full subsidy, so even if you were denied in the past, it may be worth checking again.

How to Apply for Extra Help in Hubbard

There are a few straightforward ways for a Hubbard resident to apply for the Extra Help program. The most common method is applying online through the Social Security Administration's website. The online application is convenient and can be completed at any time.

If you prefer not to use a computer or need assistance, you can apply over the phone by calling Social Security's main toll-free number. You can also request that they mail you a paper application to fill out and return.

For those who prefer in-person help, you can visit a local Social Security office. For people living in Hubbard or elsewhere in Trumbull County, the nearest field office is the SSA Warren office, located at 105 High St NW in Warren, Ohio. You can schedule an appointment to get help completing the form there. Some individuals are automatically granted Extra Help without needing to apply at all. This typically happens if you are enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid, or if you receive assistance from a Medicare Savings Program (MSP). Finally, free and unbiased guidance is available from the state's health insurance counseling program. For our area, that assistance is provided by the Direction Home Eastern Ohio Area Agency on Aging—OSHIIP, based in Poland.

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What Extra Help Covers — And What It Doesn't

It's important for residents in Hubbard to have clear expectations about what this program does. Extra Help is exclusively for costs related to Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. It does not assist with other Medicare expenses. If you are approved, the program will help pay for your Part D monthly premium. For many people on the full subsidy, their premium can be reduced to $0, as long as they choose a basic plan that qualifies. It also reduces or completely eliminates your annual Part D deductible. Finally, and most noticeably for many, it drastically lowers your out-of-pocket costs at the pharmacy counter, establishing low, fixed copayments for both generic and brand-name drugs.

What it does not cover are the costs associated with Original Medicare Parts A and B. This means Extra Help will not pay your monthly Part B premium (the amount deducted from your Social Security check). It also doesn't help with the Part A hospital deductible or the Part B medical deductible and its 20% coinsurance. For assistance with those costs, you would need to apply for a separate state-run program called a Medicare Savings Program (MSP). Many of the same people who qualify for Extra Help also qualify for an MSP, so it is often wise to investigate both.

Common Reasons an Application Might Be Denied

While the application for Extra Help is relatively simple, some common mistakes can lead to a denial. One of the most frequent reasons is having income or countable resources that are just over the official limit. Sometimes this is a simple miscalculation. For instance, a person might mistakenly list the value of their home in Hubbard or their only car as an asset, when both are exempt. This can artificially inflate their resources and trigger a denial.

Another common issue is an incomplete or inaccurate application. Forgetting to list a small source of income, like a tiny pension or part-time work, or failing to provide required documentation can cause delays or denials. It is essential to be thorough and precise. Sometimes, a person's financial situation changes partway through the year—perhaps due to retirement or the loss of a spouse's income. If you are denied but your circumstances change, you should always re-apply. With the recent expansion of the LIS program, many people who were previously on a partial subsidy now qualify for the full subsidy, and those who were just over the limit before may now be eligible. Don't assume a past denial means you can't get help today.

Applying Extra Help to a Real-Life Hubbard Scenario

Let’s consider a practical example. Imagine a 67-year-old retired teacher from Hubbard. She lives on a modest income from her state pension and Social Security. She has a Medicare Advantage plan that she likes because her primary care doctor and cardiologist at the Mercy Health St. Elizabeth campus are both in-network. However, her plan includes a Part D component with a monthly premium and what feels like high copays for two of her brand-name medications. After a quick review of her finances, it turns out her income and assets fall well within the limits for the full Extra Help subsidy.

After applying and getting approved, her benefits change significantly. The Social Security Administration starts paying her plan's drug premium directly, so that cost is gone. When she goes to her pharmacy, her copayments for her essential Tier 3 medications drop to a low, fixed amount set by the program. For her, this adds up to a savings of over $150 per month. That money makes a real difference, allowing for less stress when budgeting for groceries and utilities. Your situation is unique, and we can help you determine if you might see similar savings. To get personalized guidance on how these programs could work with your specific plans and finances, please fill out the callback form on this page.

Serving Hubbard and nearby communities

We help Medicare-eligible residents across Hubbard, Brookfield, Liberty Township, Youngstown, and the rest of Trumbull County. Major hospital networks in this area include Mercy Health St. Elizabeth. When you fill out the callback form, a licensed Ohio agent will check which plans cover your specific doctors and prescriptions.