Medicare is one of the most popular health insurance programs in the United States, covering more than 80 million Americans. It covers everything from hospital stays to doctor visits to prescription drugs, but Medicare isn’t free. The average beneficiary with traditional Medicare Parts A and B spends $5,806 out of pocket on health care costs every year. That includes the monthly premium for Part B, plus other out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and copayments. And those costs can add up quickly.

Fortunately, you may be able to get help paying for your Medicare costs. There are several ways to get Medicare Help, including government assistance programs and state Medicare Savings Programs. These programs can pay or reduce your Medicare premium, deductibles and other costs associated with Medicare Parts A and B. The rules for these programs are different in each state, so contact your local State Medical Assistance Medicaid office to learn more about eligibility and application processes.

Many people who receive Social Security disability benefits or have End-Stage Renal Disease permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant pay no Medicare premium for Part A. However, for those with higher incomes, the cost of the premium increases as their wages rise. This, combined with the fact that baby boomers are entering Medicare at a much faster rate than previous generations did and rising overall health care costs, create a situation where it is important to understand how you can get Medicare help.

If you are enrolled in both Medicare Parts A and B, and your income is below certain limits, you automatically qualify for a program called Extra Help with your prescription drug plan costs. This is also known as the Low-Income Subsidy or Part D Low-Income Credit. This program can help you pay your Medicare prescription drug plan premium, as well as your deductibles, copays and coinsurance.

For the purposes of this program, income is calculated based on how much you and your spouse earn each year. In addition to income, other resources are considered such as cash, investments (like stocks and bonds), property, life insurance policies, burial plots or contracts, and certain vehicles. However, there are exceptions to these rules. For instance, your home and personal possessions are not considered resources, but your burial funds would count toward the resource limit.

You may also be eligible for additional assistance with your prescription drug costs if you are not incarcerated and have very limited assets or resources. The rules for this are slightly different than the rules for Extra Help with your Part D costs. For example, you must live in the United States and your income must be below specific limits. Contact your local State Medical Assistance (Medicaid) or Medicare Savings Program office for more information about this program.