Are you having trouble paying for prescription drugs? If you are and you have Medicare, there is extra help available and you may be eligible. And, if you think you won't qualify for it, think again.

One woman with Medicare was struggling to pay for her prescriptions even with a drug plan and her $800 Social Security benefit. She talked to Monica, a counselor at the local State Health Insurance Information Program (SHIP) in Louisiana. Once she heard that the value of her house, as long as she lived in it, would not be used when determining her qualification for the extra help, she applied and qualified. She was very grateful for the extra help.

This extra help - available by applying and qualifying through Social Security - can pay for part of your drug costs, for example monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription co-payments. The extra help could be worth more than $3,300 per year. Many people with limited income and resources qualify for these big savings and they don't even know it. So, be a smart consumer, and don't walk away from this extra help.

You must apply to find out if you qualify for the extra help. Apply online at www.socialsecurity.gov, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or go to the nearest Social Security office for assistance.

To qualify for extra help in 2007, your income should be no more than $15,315 for an individual or $20,535 for a married couple. Your income limit may be higher if you or your spouse support other family members who live with you or if you live in Alaska or Hawaii. Your resources (like bank accounts, stocks and bonds) can't be more than $11,710 for an individual or $23,410 for a married couple. Remember, your house and car don't count toward resources.

To learn more about the Medicare prescription drug plans and when you can join, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048) or visit www.medicare.gov. Get the most out of your Medicare benefits!

This information prepared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.