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Prescription costs
Prescription Advantage: help with drug costs in Massachusetts
Prescription Advantage, Massachusetts' drug-cost program for older people, stopped taking new applications after September 11, 2026. People already enrolled stay in the program.
If you are not a member and your income and savings are limited, you may qualify for Extra Help, the federal program that lowers drug costs.
Who may qualify in Massachusetts
| One person | Married couple | |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly income limit for members with Medicare (from April 1, 2026) | $79,800 a year | $108,200 a year |
| Age (current members) | 65 or older, or under 65 with a disability |
|---|---|
| Medicare Savings Program | People in a MassHealth Buy-In (Medicare Savings Program) can't be members |
Source: Executive Office of Aging & Independence, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (source 3)
What you may get
| What members with Medicare get (from April 1, 2026) | A once-a-year chance to join or switch Medicare drug plans outside open enrollment, one-time emergency coverage of a drug your plan won't cover, and help applying for Extra Help and choosing a plan |
|---|
Source: Executive Office of Aging & Independence, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (source 2)
Dates, renewals and waiting lists
| Last day for new applications | September 11, 2026 |
|---|
Source: Executive Office of Aging & Independence, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (source 1)
Good to know
- Members with questions can call MassOptions at 1-800-243-4636 and choose option 3 (TTY 711).
- Extra Help is a Medicare program for people with limited income and savings. It can help pay Part D premiums, deductibles and copays. You can apply through Social Security or get free help from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
Sources: Executive Office of Aging & Independence, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (source 1), Medicare.gov (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) (source 5)
Free help
Free help with this in Massachusetts
Executive Office of Elder Affairs
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Massachusetts
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
- Maine
- Maryland
- 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
- Executive Office of Aging & Independence, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Prescription Advantage Documents and Resources (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Executive Office of Aging & Independence, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Prescription Advantage for Members Eligible for Medicare or Other Drug Coverage (rate schedule, effective April 1, 2026) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Executive Office of Aging & Independence, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Prescription Advantage Application Form January 2026 (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: Massachusetts (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Medicare.gov (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), Help with drug costs (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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