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  • Home Medicare Member Resources and Services Medicare Extra Help

    Medicare Extra Help

    Medicare helps pay prescription drug costs for people who qualify.

    What is Medicare Extra Help? 

    Medicare gives "extra help" to pay prescription drug costs for people who have limited income and resources. Resources are your savings and stocks, but not your home or car. If you qualify, you will get help paying for any Medicare drug plan's monthly premium, yearly deductible, and drug copays. This extra help will count toward your out-of-pocket costs.

    How do I qualify for Extra Help?

    Here are some ways you can qualify for Extra Help:

    • If you get full Medicaid benefits, you are automatically eligible for Extra Help—there is no need to apply separately. Medicare will mail you a letter with information about Extra Help when you qualify.
    • If you get any help from Medicaid paying your Medicare premiums or receive Supplemental Security Income, you will automatically get Extra Help and do not need to apply separately. However, you will need to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan.
    • If you have limited income and resources and don’t get help from Medicaid, you can apply for Extra Help and enroll in a Medicare drug plan1. Call 1 ‍(800) MEDICARE, 24/7 (except some federal holidays) (TTY ).

    How do I prove I’m eligible for Extra Help?

    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) started the Best Available Evidence (BAE) policy to deal with Extra Help eligibility. BAE makes sure that people getting Extra Help aren’t charged too much or have higher copayments than you’re supposed to.

    According to CMS, all plan sponsors, like Cigna HealthcareSM, must accept BAE sent by someone applying for Extra Help if they are eligible, even if Medicare records don’t show it. Once you’ve sent Best Available Evidence to Cigna Healthcare Medicare, we will ask CMS to change your status in their system.

    Some acceptable forms of Best Available Evidence are:

    • A copy of your Medicaid card (if you have one)
    • A copy of a state document that shows you have Medicaid
    • A print-out from a state electronic enrollment file or from your state's Medicaid systems that shows you have Medicaid
    • A screenprint from the State's Medicaid systems showing Medicaid status
    • Any other document from your state that shows you have Medicaid
    • A document from your state that shows you have Medicaid and are getting home- and community-based services
    • Social Security Administration (SSA) Award Letter
    • An “Application Filed by Deemed Eligible” (SSA publication HI 03094.605) confirming that the beneficiary is “automatically eligible for extra help”

    See a sample notice of the Application filed

    Go to CMS.gov to learn more about BAE Policy.

    Medicare and Social Security Info:

    • ‍1-800-MEDICARE , 24/7 (except some federal holidays) (TTY )
    • The Social Security Office at  between 7 am and 7 pm, Monday through Friday (TTY users should call )
    • Your local State Medicaid Office

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  • 1Refer to your Evidence of Coverage for additional details on “extra help”/Low Income Assistance (LIS). Search for plans in your area and view the LIS premium chart located on the plan’s detail page. The chart will show you what your monthly plan premiums would be if you get extra help.

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  • Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D Policy Disclaimers

    Cigna Healthcare products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of The Cigna Group. The Cigna Healthcare names, logos, and marks, including THE CIGNA GROUP and CIGNA HEALTHCARE are owned by The Cigna Group Intellectual Property, Inc. Subsidiaries of The Cigna Group contract with Medicare to offer Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plans and Part D Prescription Drug Plans (PDP) in select states, and with select State Medicaid programs. Enrollment in a Cigna Healthcare product depends on contract renewal.

    To file a marketing complaint, contact Cigna Healthcare or call 1-800-MEDICARE (), 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, TTY . Please include the agent/broker name if possible.

    Medicare Supplement Policy Disclaimers

    Medicare Supplement website content not approved for use in: Oregon.

    AN OUTLINE OF COVERAGE IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. We'll provide an outline of coverage to all persons at the time the application is presented.

    Our company and agents are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program. This is a solicitation for insurance. An insurance agent may contact you. Premium and benefits vary by plan selected. Plan availability varies by state. Medicare Supplement policies are underwritten by American Retirement Life Insurance Company, Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Cigna Insurance Company, Cigna National Health Insurance Company or Loyal American Life Insurance Company. Each insurer has sole responsibility for its own products.

    The following Medicare Supplement Plans are available to persons eligible for Medicare due to disability: Plan A in Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Maryland, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, and Virginia; Plans A, F, and G in North Carolina; and Plans C and D in New Jersey for individuals aged 50-64. Medicare Supplement policies contain exclusions, limitations, and terms under which the policies may be continued in force or discontinued. For costs and complete details of coverage, contact the company.

    This website is designed as a marketing aid and is not to be construed as a contract for insurance. It provides a brief description of the important features of the policy. Please refer to the policy for the full terms and conditions of coverage.

    In Kentucky, Plans A, F, G, HDG, N are available under Cigna National Health Insurance Company, Plans A, F, G, HDF, N are available under Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company and Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, N are available under Loyal American Life Insurance Company.

    Kansas Disclosures, Exclusions and Limitations

    Medicare Supplement Policy Forms: Plan A: CNHIC-MS-AA-A-KS, CNHIC-MS-AO-A-KS; Plan F: CNHIC-MS-AA-F-KS, CNHIC-MS-AO-F-KS; Plan G: CNHIC-MS-AA-G-KS, CNHIC-MS-AO-G-KS; Plan N: CNHIC-MS-AA-N-KS, CNHIC-MS-AO-N-KS

    Exclusions and Limitations:

    The benefits of this policy will not duplicate any benefits paid by Medicare. The combined benefits of this policy and the benefits paid by Medicare may not exceed one-hundred percent (100%) of the Medicare Eligible Expenses incurred. This policy will not pay benefits for the following:

    (1) the Medicare Part B Deductible;

    (2) any expense which You are not legally obligated to pay; or services for which no charge is normally made in the absence of insurance;

    (3) any services that are not medically necessary as determined by Medicare;

    (4) any portion of any expense for which payment is made by Medicare or other government programs (except Medicaid); or for which payment would have been made by Medicare if You were enrolled in Parts A and B of Medicare;

    (5) any type of expense not a Medicare Eligible Expense except as provided previously in this policy;

    (6) any deductible, Coinsurance or Co-payment not covered by Medicare, unless such coverage is listed as a benefit in this policy; or

    (7) Preexisting Conditions: We will not pay for any expenses incurred for care or treatment of a Preexisting Condition for the first six (6) months from the effective date of coverage. This exclusion does not apply if You applied for and were issued this policy under guaranteed issue status; if on the date of application for this policy You had at least six (6) months of prior Creditable Coverage; or, if this policy is replacing another Medicare Supplement policy and a six (6) month waiting period has already been satisfied. Evidence of prior coverage or replacement must have been disclosed on the application for this policy. If You had less than six (6) months prior Creditable Coverage, the Preexisting Conditions limitation will be reduced by the aggregate amount of Creditable Coverage. If this policy is replacing another Medicare Supplement policy, credit will be given for any portion of the waiting period that has been satisfied.

    Selecting these links will take you away from Cigna.com to another website, which may be a non-Cigna Healthcare website.

    Y0036_24_1037312_M | Page last updated 01/01/2024

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