Beyond basic hospital and medical coverage (Parts A and B), many Medicare beneficiaries qualify for additional financial assistance and expanded supplemental coverage—often referred to as Medicare extra benefits.
Checking your eligibility early ensures you maximize available healthcare savings and never pay out-of-pocket for services covered under federal or state programs. Read on Insiderbits.
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Which is the best app to check your Medicare extra benefits?
Understanding Medicare extra benefits starts with knowing the difference between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
While Original Medicare covers many hospital services, doctor visits, and preventive care, most Medicare Advantage plans may also include dental, vision, and hearing benefits, depending on the plan.
The What’s Covered app (iOS | Android) from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) helps you check whether specific medical services, tests, and supplies are covered under Original Medicare Parts A and B.
The app doesn’t provide a complete overview of every Medicare Advantage plan’s extra benefits, so check your plan documents for details about coverage, costs, and eligibility.
You can download it for free. If you have limited income and resources, you may also qualify for Extra Help, a separate federal program that helps pay Medicare Part D prescription drug costs.
Features of the What’s Covered App
The What’s Covered app (iOS | Android) by CMS helps older adults and caregivers check which services and medical supplies are covered by Original Medicare.
It also provides cost information, eligibility notes, and access to coverage details, including preventive care and medicare extra benefits available through certain Medicare Advantage plans.
- Coverage search: check whether Medicare covers services such as mammograms, diabetes supplies, home health care, and other medical treatments;
- Preventive care information: explore covered services, including eligible screenings, wellness visits, and vaccines. Many preventive services are available at no cost when coverage requirements are met;
- Cost and eligibility details: review potential deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and eligibility conditions before receiving care;
- Offline access: browse coverage information without an active internet connection, making it useful during appointments or while traveling.
If you’re comparing Medicare Advantage plans with extra benefits like dental and vision coverage, use our Medicare plan comparison tool to explore your options.
For official information on prescription drug cost assistance, visit the Social Security Administration’s Medicare Part D Extra Help guide.
Step-by-step: how to verify healthcare coverage and benefit eligibility
Checking whether you qualify for medicare extra benefits or savings programs can help you find coverage options that fit your needs and budget.
Follow these steps to review your benefits, check income-based assistance, and confirm your eligibility through official Medicare resources.
Step 1: collect personal health and financial records
Retrieve your official red, white, and blue Medicare card. If checking eligibility for low-income extra help, gather recent bank statements, tax returns, and pension or Social Security award letters.
Step 2: check services in the ‘What’s Covered’ app
Launch the What’s Covered app (iOS | Android) on your smartphone to check whether standard Medicare covers your upcoming medical test, therapy, or equipment request.
Step 3: review your ‘my Medicare’ personal account
Access your online profile at Medicare.gov to review active plan benefits, check Part D prescription coverage levels, and verify if you are already enrolled in Extra Help.
Step 4: apply for Extra Help or Medicare savings programs
If your income qualifies, submit an application for the Part D Low-Income Subsidy (Extra Help) through Social Security or apply for a state Medicare Savings Program (MSP) to cover Part B premiums.
Top national prescription discount programs
Even with Medicare coverage, out-of-pocket prescription costs can accumulate quickly. Utilizing national prescription savings programs alongside or in place of insurance helps lower pharmacy bills:
- Medicare Extra Help (LIS): the primary federal program that helps Medicare beneficiaries with limited income pay for Part D premiums, deductibles, and prescription copays;
- GoodRx: a free prescription savings platform that lets you compare medication prices at participating pharmacies and access coupons. Depending on the medication and pharmacy, the discounted cash price may be lower than your insurance copay, so it’s worth comparing both options before paying;
- SingleCare: another free prescription savings platform that offers coupons for eligible medications at participating pharmacies. You can compare its discounted prices with other available options to see whether paying with a coupon costs less than using your insurance;
- State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs): state-specific financial assistance programs that offer supplemental coverage for prescription drugs to qualifying low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities.
How to save more money on medical bills
Managing healthcare costs starts with understanding your coverage and exploring available savings options.
Medicare extra benefits, often included in Medicare Advantage plans, may help cover services Original Medicare generally doesn’t, such as routine dental care, vision exams, and hearing aids:
- Schedule annual wellness visits: Medicare covers 100% of your annual preventive wellness exam. Taking advantage of preventive screenings catches health issues early before they turn into costly medical procedures;
- Request generic medications: ask your prescribing physician or pharmacist if generic equivalents are available for your brand-name medications, as generics carry significantly lower copays under Medicare Part D;
- Apply for hospital financial assistance: non-profit hospitals are legally required to offer charity care or fee reductions to qualifying low- to moderate-income patients facing large medical bills;
- Review medical bills for billing errors: request an itemized invoice for major hospital stays or outpatient procedures to check for duplicate charges, incorrect billing codes, or unrendered services before submitting payment.
Benefits vary by plan, and some may have coverage limits, copayments, or network restrictions. Review your plan’s details to understand what’s included and make the most of the benefits available to you.
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Making the most of your Medicare benefits
Understanding Medicare extra benefits can help you find ways to manage healthcare costs and make the most of your coverage.
The free What’s Covered app (iOS | Android) explains what Original Medicare covers, while the Extra Help program may reduce prescription drug costs for eligible beneficiaries.
Check your eligibility for savings programs through official Medicare resources, and review your plan’s benefits before paying out of pocket for care or prescriptions.
Since coverage and costs vary, confirming the details can help you avoid unexpected expenses.
