Morning Consult: The case for expanding the Medicare Extra Help Program

The Extra Help program, also known as the Low-Income Subsidy, has the potential to help millions of Medicare-eligible people afford prescription drug costs. But its restrictive income and asset limits and complicated application process are hampering its ability to fulfill its intention.

Although it’s called the Extra Help program, it hasn’t always lived up to its name.

This opinion article, originally published in the Morning Consult, focuses on what Congress can do to expand this program and help Medicare beneficiaries in need. Amy Niles, executive vice president at the PAN Foundation, co-authored this opinion piece with Howard Bedlin, government relations and advocacy principal at the National Council on Aging.