ConnPACE Program: What Replaced Connecticut's Pharmacy Assistance

ConnPACE Is No Longer Available for Medicare Beneficiaries

If you're searching for ConnPACE — the Connecticut Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract to the Elderly and Disabled — it was eliminated for Medicare-eligible individuals on July 1, 2011, and the remaining program was eliminated effective January 1, 2014, under Public Act 13-234.

ConnPACE originally provided state-funded prescription drug coverage before Medicare Part D existed. Medicare beneficiaries were directed to Part D and the state's Medicare Savings Programs; after the 2011 phase-out for Medicare-eligible people, Public Act 13-234 eliminated the remaining ConnPACE program. ConnPACE is no longer available.

What Replaced It

Connecticut replaced ConnPACE with a more comprehensive pathway: the state's Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, and ALMB) now automatically trigger Full Extra Help — the federal Low-Income Subsidy for Part D — without a separate prescription drug application.

The practical result is better than ConnPACE ever was:

• $0 monthly premium on benchmark Part D plans
• $0 annual deductible
• Reduced copayments on covered prescriptions
• No coverage gap
• $2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap on Part D costs (2026, under the Inflation Reduction Act), though MSP enrollees with Full Extra Help rarely reach it
• $35/month insulin cap regardless of plan

Why This Matters for People Searching for ConnPACE

The most common reason people search for ConnPACE in 2026 is that an older relative remembers the program and assumes it still helps with drug costs. The replacement pathway is actually simpler: apply for Connecticut's Medicare Savings Program, and if approved, Extra Help kicks in automatically.

Connecticut's MSP income limits are among the highest in the country — $2,807 per month for a single person under QMB in 2026, roughly 211% of the federal poverty level. And Connecticut eliminated the asset test entirely under CGS § 17b-95. No bank statements, no home equity questions, no retirement account disclosures.

How to Access the Replacement Coverage

1. Apply for Connecticut's Medicare Savings Program through the ConneCT portal or by mailing Form W-1QMB to DSS
2. If approved for any tier (QMB, SLMB, or ALMB), CMS automatically deems the person eligible for Full Extra Help
3. Enroll in a Part D plan through CHOICES counselors (1-800-994-9422) — Extra Help qualifies beneficiaries for a Special Enrollment Period to switch plans quarterly

For standalone Extra Help through SSA, federal income and asset limits apply ($9,950 single / $14,910 couple in 2026). But Connecticut MSP enrollees bypass those federal tests entirely — the state's MSP approval is the only gateway needed.

The Connecticut Medicare Savings & Extra Help Guide covers how the ConnPACE-to-MSP transition works in detail, including which Part D plans cost $0 under Full Extra Help and how to resolve pharmacy rejections when the LIS deeming data hasn't updated yet.

See more Connecticut guides →