Extra Help & Paying Less
What is LI NET?
Last reviewed: · Big Sioux Benefits Data Desk
LI NET, the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition program, provides temporary Medicare Part D drug coverage to people who qualify for Extra Help or Medicaid but who are not yet enrolled in a Medicare drug plan (Medicare.gov). It exists to close the gap between the moment you become eligible for help and the moment a drug plan actually covers you, which can otherwise run for weeks.
The qualifier, and it is the part worth acting on: you may be able to get money back for covered Part D drugs you paid for out of pocket after you qualified. That means keeping receipts matters. If you paid cash for prescriptions during a period when you were already eligible for Extra Help or Medicaid but had no plan, those receipts may be reimbursable, and nobody will chase you to submit them.
How to reach LI NET
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Phone | 1-800-783-1307 |
| TTY | 711 |
| Hours | 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time |
| Who it covers | People eligible for Extra Help or Medicaid without a drug plan yet |
| What to bring | Receipts showing prescription prices you paid |
LI NET is genuinely obscure, including among people who work in this field, so it is worth raising yourself rather than waiting for someone to mention it. If you are newly approved for Medicaid or Extra Help and have been paying cash at the pharmacy, call the number above and ask about both temporary coverage and reimbursement. Free local help sorting it out is available from SHIINE at 1-800-536-8197, and the enrollment side is covered in how to apply for Extra Help.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Help with drug costs (Extra Help) — 2026 limits and amounts; accessed 2026-08-21
- Social Security Administration — Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug plan costs — accessed 2026-08-21
- SHIINE — South Dakota's State Health Insurance Assistance Program — accessed 2026-08-21
Related questions
How long does LI NET coverage last?
It is transitional by design, bridging the period until you are enrolled in a Medicare drug plan. It is not a permanent plan. Once you are enrolled in a drug plan, that plan takes over.
Can I get reimbursed for drugs I already paid for?
You may be able to get money back for covered Part D drugs you paid for after you qualified for Extra Help or Medicaid. Keep your receipts with the prescription prices on them, and call LI NET at 1-800-783-1307 to ask.
Drug costs turn on your specific prescriptions, so the arithmetic is worth doing once, properly: book a free, no-pressure conversation, see your county's South Dakota plan lineup, or browse all answers. SHIINE, the state's free counseling program, is at 1-800-536-8197 and sells nothing.
Big Sioux Benefits is a licensed insurance agency, not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or SHIINE (South Dakota's SHIP) for all of your options.