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Prescription costs

PACE and PACENET: help with drug costs in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's PACE and PACENET programs give people 65 and older low prescription copays, paid for by the state lottery.

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From the Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PACE and PACENET)
An older man's hands filling a weekly pill organizer next to prescription bottles

With PACE you pay no more than $6 for a generic and $9 for a brand-name drug; PACENET, for somewhat higher incomes, caps copays at $8 and $15. You may qualify with a previous-year income up to $33,500 single or $41,500 married.

How to apply in Pennsylvania

By mail
PACE, P.O. Box 8806, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8806

Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.

Apply on the official site

Who may qualify in Pennsylvania

Who may qualify for PACE and PACENET
One personMarried couple
Yearly income limit for PACE (2026, based on last year's income)$14,500 or less$17,700 or less
Age65 or older (you can apply up to 30 days before your 65th birthday)
Yearly income range for PACENET, single (2026, based on last year's income)$14,501 to $33,500
Yearly income range for PACENET, married (2026, based on last year's income)$17,701 to $41,500
Where you livePennsylvania resident for at least 90 days in a row
MedicaidCan't be getting Medicaid prescription benefits
Medicare drug planNot required. PACE and PACENET work with or without a Part D plan, and may enroll you in one unless you tell them not to

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PACE program) (source 3)

What you may get

What PACE and PACENET pays
Your copaysPACE: no more than $6 for a generic and $9 for a brand-name drug (30-day supply). PACENET: no more than $8 and $15
Help with the Part D premium (2026)PACE pays your Part D premium up to $32.71 a month if your plan is on its list. PACENET members pay the premium, up to $32.71, at the pharmacy, and only in months they use the card
Deductibles and copaysAll PACE and PACENET cardholders get help with Part D deductibles and copays

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PACE program) (source 3)

Dates, renewals and waiting lists

Dates and renewals
RenewingRenews automatically each year if your income stays within the limits

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PACE program) (source 3)

Good to know

  • You can have PACE or PACENET along with Extra Help, retiree or union coverage, employer plans and veterans benefits.
  • PACE can also help you apply for Extra Help, property tax and rent rebates, SNAP and heating help.
  • Pennsylvania's Chronic Renal Disease Program (for kidney disease) and Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Programs (for HIV and certain mental health conditions) are separate, condition-specific programs.

Sources: Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PACE program) (source 3), Medicare.gov (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) (source 4)

Free help

Free help with this in Pennsylvania

More help in Pennsylvania

State help with drug costs in another state

Sources

  1. Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PACE program), PACE and PACENET (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
  2. Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PACE program), About PACE and PACENET (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
  3. Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PACE program), PACE Frequently Asked Questions (2026) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
  4. Medicare.gov (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), Find out if your state has a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program: Pennsylvania (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.

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