处方药费用补助一年约值5700美元：收入和存款在上限内就能向社安署申请
美国社会保障署（SSA）介绍，拿到联邦医疗保险（Medicare）的人都能参加处方药计划，其中收入和资源有限的人，还可以申请一项叫 Extra Help 的额外补助，用来付处方药计划的月保费、年度自付额和配药自付费用。这项补助估计一年约值5,700美元。
门槛是两条线。资源上限：个人18,090美元，住在一起的已婚夫妇36,100美元，社安署要了解申请人的储蓄、投资和除自住房外的房产价值。收入上限：个人年收入23,940美元，已婚夫妇32,460美元。两条线都在内的，才有资格。
有一类人不用另行申请：已经在领补充保障收入（SSI）、有完整 Medicaid，或参加了 Medicare 储蓄计划的人，会被视作自动符合资格。其余人要填 Extra Help 申请表（表格 SSA-1020）提出申请。
申请渠道写得很清楚：上网到社安署的 Medicare Part D Extra Help 页面在线申请，或打电话 1-800-772-1213，也可以去本地社安办公室。社安署还提醒一件事：如果第一次有资格参加处方药计划时没有加入，之后再加入可能要付迟报名罚款，符合补助条件的人更值得尽早把计划和补助一起办齐。（来源：社会保障署）
Extra Help With Medicare Drug Costs Is Worth About $5,700 a Year: Income and Savings Limits Decide Who Qualifies
Anyone who has Medicare can get Medicare prescription drug coverage, and people with limited resources and income may also qualify for Extra Help with the costs, the Social Security Administration (SSA) explains. Extra Help covers monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments under a Medicare drug plan, and is estimated to be worth about $5,700 per year.
Eligibility turns on two limits. Resources must be limited to $18,090 for a person or $36,100 for a married couple living together; Social Security looks at savings, investments and real estate other than the applicant's home. Annual income must be limited to $23,940 for a person or $32,460 for a married couple living together.
Some people do not need to apply separately: those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), full Medicaid coverage, or help through a Medicare Savings Program are treated as automatically eligible. Everyone else applies by filing an Application for Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs (Form SSA-1020).
Applications can be filed online on Social Security's Medicare Part D Extra Help page, by calling 1-800-772-1213, or at a local Social Security office. SSA also notes that people who do not enroll in a Medicare drug plan when first eligible may face a late enrollment penalty if they join later, which makes sorting out both the plan and the subsidy early worthwhile. (Source: Social Security Administration)
来源：社会保障署
发布：GSM·美国（发布链接）
图片来源：图：药片特写。Wikimedia Commons 图片。 / Photo: Prescription pills. Image via Wikimedia Commons.
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