1. (1) An applicant eligible for the Big Sky Rx PDP premium assistance may receive a benefit not to exceed $41.50 per month. The benefit amount will not exceed $41.50 regardless of the cost of the premium for the PDP the individual chooses.

   1. (a) If a portion of the applicant's PDP premium is paid through the Extra Help Program, the Big Sky Rx Program will pay the applicant's portion of the PDP premium up to $41.50 per month.
   2. (b) Big Sky Rx does not pay for the cost of an enrollee's drugs or the cost of an enrollee's deductible, coinsurance, or copayments.
   3. (c) All expenditures are contingent on legislative appropriation. The amount of the monthly benefit, $41.50, extends the Social Security Extra Help benefit amount to Montana residents with income up to 200% FPL. The department's total expenditure for the program will be based on appropriation and the number of enrolled applicants.

Authorizing statute(s): 53-2-201, 53-6-1004, MCA

Implementing statute(s): 53-2-201, 53-6-1001, 53-6-1004, 53-6-1005, MCA

History: NEW, 2006 MAR p. 336, Eff. 2/10/06; AMD, 2008 MAR p. 954, Eff. 5/9/08; AMD, 2009 MAR p. 2378, Eff. 1/1/10; AMD, 2010 MAR p. 2986, Eff. 1/1/11; AMD, 2011 MAR p. 2826, Eff. 1/1/12; AMD, 2012 MAR p. 2495, Eff. 1/1/13; AMD, 2013 MAR p. 2438, Eff. 1/1/14; AMD, 2014 MAR p. 3093, Eff. 1/1/15; AMD, 2016 MAR p. 21, Eff. 1/9/16; AMD, 2016 MAR p. 2434, Eff. 1/1/17; AMD, 2019 MAR p. 60, Eff. 1/12/19; AMD, 2020 MAR p. 94, Eff. 1/18/20; AMD, 2021 MAR p. 183, Eff. 2/13/21; AMD, 2021 MAR p. 1935, Eff. 1/1/22; AMD, 2024 MAR p. 1886, Eff. 7/27/24; AMD, 2025 MAR, Notice No. 2025-526, Eff. 11/8/25; AMD, 2026 MAR, Notice No. 2026-366, Eff. 4/25/26.