Maryland Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program Subsidy

Program Description

Maryland’s prescription drug assistance program is known as the SPDAP (Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program) Subsidy. It provides financial assistance to eligible residents to assist with their Medicare Rx (Part D) premiums. In addition, it provides assistance to individuals falling in the Medicare donut hole—a period of high out-of-pocket costs for medications under drug insurance policies.

This program is known as a Medicare wraparound program, which means the benefits wrap around those benefits provided by a Medicare Part D plan.  Therefore it is a requirement that program participants have a Medicare Part D plan. When making a prescription purchase, Medicare Part D is the first payer and then this program contributes towards those costs the Part D plan does not cover.

SPDAP is administered by the Maryland Department of Health. 

Eligibility Guidelines

To be eligible for this program, seniors must meet the following criteria:

• Be a Maryland resident for a minimum of six months.
• Must enroll or be enrolled in a qualified Medicare Rx (Part D) plan or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan. (There are many options from which to choose. One can see all of them on the SPDAP program application, which is linked at the bottom of this page).
• Have an annual income of less than three times the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). In dollar terms for 2020, the SPDAP income limit is $38,280 for an individual or $51,720 for a married couple. Income includes earned wages, pensions, social security benefits, annuities, etc.
• Must not be eligible for Medicaid or 100% Full Federal Low Income Subsidy “Extra Help”.

Benefits and Services

This program pays up to $40 per month towards the cost of standalone Medicare drug plans or Medicare Advantage Prescription drug premiums.

Additional benefits are offered to individuals whose prescription costs cause them to fall into the Medicare doughnut hole. The infamous Prescription Drug Donut Hole, or coverage gap, occurs after the total amount spent on medicine exceeds a certain amount during the year. The insured individual then has to pay all of the drug costs until they reach a higher level of out of pocket drug costs for the year. 

How to Apply / Learn More

Maryland residents can learn more about this program by visiting the SPDAP website or by calling their toll free number at (800) 551-5995. One can apply by downloading an application here. Please make note, if both spouses of a couple are applying for this program, each spouse must fill out their own application.