There are programs built specifically to lower the monthly cost of health care, food, and utility bills for older adults. Many people who qualify never apply, often because they assume the limits are lower than they actually are, or they have simply never heard of the program.
Income and asset limits vary by state and change over time, so this article will not guess at numbers. What follows is a list of programs worth checking, along with where to check:
- Medicare Savings Programs (help with your Part B premium)
- Extra Help (lower drug costs under Part D)
- SNAP (help with groceries)
- LIHEAP (help with energy bills)
- Property tax relief (varies by state)
- Lifeline (a discount on phone or internet service)
- Medicaid (broader health cost help for limited income and savings)
Help With Your Medicare Premium
Medicare Savings Programs can help pay your Part B premium, and depending on the specific program, sometimes more than that. These are run at the state level, so the exact rules differ depending on where you live.
Applying does not affect your Medicare coverage itself. It only affects what you pay for it. The application usually goes through your state's Medicaid office, even if you are not applying for Medicaid itself.
Help With Prescription Costs
Extra Help is a program that lowers what you pay for Part D prescription drug coverage, including premiums, deductibles, and copays for some people.
A lot of people assume they make too much to qualify and never check. Since the actual limits can change and vary by household size, it is worth applying to find out rather than guessing.
The application for Extra Help is handled through the Social Security Administration. It is separate from your actual Part D plan, so applying does not require you to switch plans first.
Help With Groceries and Home Heating
SNAP, sometimes still called food stamps, helps cover the cost of groceries for people who qualify, including many older adults on a fixed income. Many people assume SNAP is only for younger families, which keeps eligible older adults from ever applying.
LIHEAP helps with energy bills, including heating in the winter and sometimes cooling in the summer, depending on your state's program. Both programs are run at the state and local level, so where you apply depends on where you live.
Help With Property Taxes and Phone Bills
Many states offer some form of property tax relief for older homeowners, though the details vary widely from one state to the next. Some offer a reduction, others a deferral, so it is worth reading the specifics rather than assuming one type applies. Check with your local tax assessor's office directly.
The Lifeline program offers a discount on phone or internet service for people who qualify, which can help if a fixed income makes that monthly bill harder to manage.
Medicaid, If Your Income and Savings Are Limited
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that can cover health costs for people with limited income and savings. Some people qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid at the same time, which can lower out of pocket costs by a wide margin.
Rules and limits vary by state, and they do change. Your state's Medicaid office is the source to check, and applying does not cost anything.
One Tool That Checks All of Them at Once
Instead of researching each program separately, NCOA's BenefitsCheckUp tool asks a set of questions and shows you which programs you may qualify for based on your answers. It is free to use, and it typically takes only a few minutes.
Your local Area Agency on Aging is another good starting point. They know the programs specific to your area and can point you toward the right office for each one, which matters since program names and rules shift from state to state.
At the time of writing, these programs exist in the form described here, but rules, names, and eligibility limits do change. Check directly with the program or agency before assuming you do or don't qualify.
