The Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) program helps Medicare beneficiaries with limited income and assets learn about programs that may save them money on their Medicare costs. MIPPA funding through the Administration for Community living supports targeted outreach and education to eligible Medicare beneficiaries, especially those who are:

• Low-income with limited resources
• Residents of rural areas
• Members of American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian communities
• People with disabilities under age 65
• Speakers of English as a secondary language

MIPPA works to educate Medicare beneficiaries about existing programs that can help them save money on their health care costs. These programs include:

Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS)/Extra Help: Administered by the Social Security Administration, this program helps to lower Medicare Part D costs – including out-of-pocket costs for premiums, deductibles, and prescription drugs – for beneficiaries who meet certain income and resource eligibility requirements.

Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs): Administered by state Medicaid agencies, MSPs can help pay some Medicare costs for health care, including Medicare Part B premiums, for eligible beneficiaries. These programs have four levels of benefits, each with its own eligibility requirements: Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB), Qualifying Individual (QI), and Qualified Disabled Working Individual (QDWI).

Medicare Preventive Services: MIPPA grantees also educate the community about Medicare Preventive Services, which cover many preventive health services such as the “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit, yearly “Wellness” visits, vaccinations like the flu and COVID-19, screenings for cancer and heart disease, and more. These services are available to all Medicare beneficiaries, regardless of their income and assets.

New Mexico's Aging Network