Maine State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in Maine. Trained counselors go through your costs and choices with you, and they don't sell plans.
Prescription costs
Low Cost Drugs for the Elderly and Disabled: help with drug costs in Maine
Maine's Low Cost Drugs for the Elderly and Disabled program, called DEL, helps people 62 and older, and adults with disabilities, pay for prescriptions.
For people with Medicare, state law says it helps with drug plan premiums and the costs you share, such as copays. It is run by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
How to apply in Maine
- Who runs it
- Maine Department of Health and Human Services
Who may qualify in Maine
| Where you live | Legal resident of Maine |
|---|---|
| Age | 62 or older, or 19 or older with a disability under Social Security rules |
| Income limit | Household income up to 185% of the federal poverty guideline |
| If your income is over the limit | You may still qualify if your household spends at least 40% of its income on prescriptions and your income is no more than 25% over the limit |
| MaineCare | You can't get DEL if you get full MaineCare drug coverage. People with both MaineCare and Medicare Part D may be enrolled without applying. |
| Medicare drug plan | The state may require you to join a Medicare drug plan if you are eligible for one |
Source: Maine Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes (source 1)
What you may get
| What it pays | For people with Medicare, help with drug plan premiums and the costs you share, such as copays |
|---|
Source: Maine Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes (source 1)
Good to know
- Medicare's finder lists this program as Maine's state drug-cost program for older and disabled people.
Source: Medicare.gov (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) (source 2)
Free help
Free help with this in Maine
Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS)
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Maine
State help with drug costs in another state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- Maine Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes, MRS Title 22, §254-D. Elderly low-cost drug program (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Medicare.gov (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), Find out if your state has a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program: Maine (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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