Medicare Open Enrollment starts Thursday, October 15 (9 days) and runs to December 7. Extra Help has no deadline: apply any time, and do it before you pick a 2027 drug plan.
Extra Help pays for Medicare drug plan premiums, deductibles and copays. Social Security estimates it's worth about $5,700 a year and says many people who qualify don't know it. 141,190 San Diego County residents already get it.
Do you qualify? (2026)
| Income limit | Savings and assets limit | |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $23,940 | $18,090 |
| Married couple | $32,460 | $36,100 |
Medicare.gov, 2026. Your home doesn't count toward the assets limit. With Extra Help you pay no more than $12.65 for each drug your plan covers in 2026, and no Part D late penalty.
You may already have it, automatically
Medicare.gov says you get Extra Help automatically if you have full Medi-Cal, get help from the state paying your Part B premium (a Medicare Savings Program), or get SSI. Look for the notice in the mail.
The fix nobody knows: too much savings for Extra Help?
Extra Help's savings limit is $18,090 for one person. Medi-Cal's limit for people 65 and older is $130,000 for one person, plus $65,000 for each extra person in the house (DHCS, January 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027). If your income is low enough for Medi-Cal, getting Medi-Cal brings Extra Help with it automatically.
Medicare Savings Programs can also pay your Part B premium: $202.90 a month in 2026, about $2,435 a year. Apply for Medi-Cal and the Medicare Savings Programs through the County on BenefitsCal, and Social Security says your Extra Help application can start the Medicare Savings Program application too.
Already on Medi-Cal? Assets count again at renewal since January 1, 2026, so answer the renewal packet so coverage (and the Extra Help that comes with it) doesn't lapse.
How to apply
- Have your Medicare card, bank and investment statements, and income (Social Security, pensions) handy.
- Apply for Extra Help online with Social Security or by phone at 1-800-772-1213. It's free.
- If you're over the savings limit but your income is low, apply for Medi-Cal on BenefitsCal.
- Then pick your 2027 drug plan during Open Enrollment. For unbiased plan advice, use free HICAP counseling: Medicare Open Enrollment in San Diego.
Or do it with PJ: he sits with you or your parent, gathers the statements, and fills in the Extra Help and BenefitsCal applications with you. He doesn't recommend plans; HICAP does that for free. Text PJ.
More: fall deadlines · help for seniors.
Sources: Medicare.gov, Extra Help · Medicare Savings Programs · Social Security, Extra Help publication · CMS, 2026 Part B premium · DHCS, Medi-Cal asset limit · CMS enrollment data. Checked October 6, 2026.
Need a human?
This page is built every morning from public data by SideGuy, run by PJ, a local in Solana Beach. If something looks off, or you want a hand with your plans, text PJ at 858-461-8054. A real person answers.
Local help, free to read: make your fix plan · senior benefits checkup · lower your SDG&E bill · Medicare Extra Help · the next 90 days. Plans start as low as $25.
Questions people ask
What is Medicare Extra Help worth?
Social Security estimates about $5,700 a year in help with Medicare drug plan premiums, deductibles and copays; in 2026 you pay no more than $12.65 for each covered drug.
What are the Extra Help limits for 2026?
Income up to $23,940 and savings up to $18,090 for one person; $32,460 and $36,100 for a married couple (Medicare.gov). Your home doesn't count.
Do I get Extra Help automatically?
Yes if you have full Medi-Cal, a Medicare Savings Program paying your Part B premium, or SSI.
I have too much in savings for Extra Help. Is there another way?
Medi-Cal for people 65 and older allows up to $130,000 in assets for one person (plus $65,000 per extra person) through June 30, 2027, and Medi-Cal brings Extra Help automatically, if your income qualifies.
Is there a deadline to apply for Extra Help?
No. You can apply any time; applying before choosing a drug plan in Open Enrollment (Oct 15 to Dec 7) helps.
Know someone who needs this?
Something changed here? Text PJ and we'll update this page.
More free local tools: the North County toolkit.