Medicare
Medicare drug costs in 2026
Do you qualify for Extra Help?
Check now →Open now through December 7Medicare open enrollment checklist
Use the 9-step checklist →In 2026 you pay no more than $2,100 a year for covered Part D drugs, and covered insulin costs no more than $35 a month. If money is tight, apply for Extra Help.
Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy)
A federal program that pays your Part D premium and deductible for a basic plan and caps your copays. You can apply any time of year.
| 2026 limit | Single | Married couple |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly income | $2,015 | $2,725 |
| Savings and assets | $18,090 | $36,100 |
With Extra Help in 2026, copays are at most $5.10 for a generic and $12.65 for a brand drug (less if you also have Medicaid). Your home and car don't count as assets.
Or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
Other help for Medicare members
- Charity foundations. One of the few kinds of copay help Medicare allows. See Ways to save.
- Free drug programs. Many drugmaker programs accept Medicare members who meet income limits.
- State programs. Some states add their own help on top of Medicare. Check Medicare.gov.
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. Spreads your drug costs into monthly payments across the year. It doesn't lower the total, but it avoids a big bill in January.
Drugmaker copay cards and $35 inhaler programs can't be used with Medicare. Cash purchases also don't count toward your $2,100 limit.
Open enrollment: October 15 to December 7
Plans change their drug lists and prices every year. Use the Medicare Plan Finder with your exact medication list to see which plan costs least for 2027.
Get a heads-up when prices change
One short email when a new generic, price cap or program could lower what you pay. No spam, no selling your address.