What is a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program?
A State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program, usually shortened to SPAP, is a program run by an individual state that pays part of what older or disabled residents owe for prescription drugs after Medicare pays, and roughly a dozen states operate one with income limits that are often well above the federal Extra Help limits.
What this means
- Each state names its program differently. Pennsylvania calls its version PACE and PACENET; other states use their own names.
- A state program pays on top of Medicare Part D, so you generally keep your Medicare drug plan and the state picks up part of your share.
- Because the income limits are set by the state, people who were denied Extra Help are often accepted by their state program.
- Being enrolled in a qualifying state program also gives you a special enrollment period to change Medicare drug plans.
What to do first
- Check the official Medicare page on help with drug costs to see whether your state runs a program.
- Call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program and ask specifically about state pharmaceutical assistance in your state.
- If you live in Pennsylvania, look at the Pennsylvania PACE and PACENET program record on this site, which is a different thing from the federal PACE care program.
Pennsylvania PACE and PACENET Prescription Assistance
Pennsylvania's state prescription program for residents 65 and older. Not the same thing as federal PACE.
State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs
About a dozen states run their own prescription help on top of Medicare Part D.
What you'll need
- Medicare card
- Proof of Pennsylvania residency
- Prior year income information
- Proof of state residency
- Proof of age
- Prior year income
Deadlines and timing
- Most states have no application deadline, but enrollment can pause when state funding is tight.
- Do not confuse a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program with the federal PACE program for all-inclusive care. The names overlap and the programs are unrelated.
Where to go
- Pennsylvania PACE and PACENET Prescription Assistance: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/aging
- State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs: https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/help/drug-costs
Reviewed by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward · Last verified August 25, 2026
Sources
- Get help with drug costs · Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Pennsylvania PACE program · Pennsylvania Department of Aging
Every program on this site is free to apply for. Anyone who asks you to pay to apply, or to “unlock” a government benefit, is a scam — hang up and call Senior Medicare Patrol or 211.
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