What Are the Medicare Savings Programs and Do I Qualify? (2026)

The Medicare Savings Programs are state-run programs that pay your Medicare costs. All three, QMB, SLMB, and QI, pay the $202.90 monthly Part B premium, and QMB also covers your deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. In 2026, monthly income limits run to about $1,350 (QMB), $1,616 (SLMB), and $1,816 (QI) for a single person. The federal resource limit is $9,950, but 13 states plus D.C. have no asset test. Qualifying also enrolls you in Extra Help automatically.

What are the Medicare Savings Programs?

The Medicare Savings Programs are three state-administered programs, QMB, SLMB, and QI, that help pay Medicare costs for people with limited income. All three pay your Part B premium, $202.90 a month in 2026. They are funded through Medicaid but are separate from full Medicaid, and you apply through your state's Medicaid office.

The three tiers exist to serve slightly different income levels, with QMB covering the most and QI the least. Despite paying real, recurring money, they are among the most under-claimed benefits in Medicare, largely because people never check whether they qualify. The programs are described by Medicare, and a free counselor can screen you for all three at once.

What does QMB pay for?

QMB, the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program, is the most generous tier. It pays your $202.90 Part B premium and covers your Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. Under federal law, QMB members cannot be balance-billed for those costs, if a provider tries, that is improper billing you can dispute.

QMB effectively eliminates most out-of-pocket cost-sharing under Original Medicare, which for someone with frequent care is worth far more than the premium alone. The billing protection is a specific federal right: providers must accept Medicare and Medicaid payment as payment in full. In 2026 the QMB monthly income limit is roughly $1,350 for a single person and $1,824 for a couple, per SSA's program limits.

What do SLMB and QI pay for?

SLMB and QI both pay your $202.90 Part B premium, putting roughly $2,435 a year back in your pocket, but neither covers deductibles or copays the way QMB does. They serve people whose income is a little too high for QMB. QI has a limited annual budget and is awarded first-come, first-served, so apply early in the year.

The practical difference is income: SLMB's 2026 monthly limit is about $1,616 (single), and QI's is about $1,816 (single). If you qualify for QMB you take that; if your income is just above it, SLMB or QI still returns the full Part B premium. One caveat: QI cannot be combined with full Medicaid, whereas QMB and SLMB can.

What are the 2026 income limits?

In 2026, the monthly income limits for a single person are approximately $1,350 for QMB, $1,616 for SLMB, and $1,816 for QI, with higher figures for couples. These are federal minimums, several states set higher limits, and Alaska and Hawaii use higher figures. Because some income is disregarded, applying is worth it even if you are slightly over.

The limits are indexed to the federal poverty level and rise most years. The key insight is that they are higher than people assume: a single person earning around $21,000 a year can still qualify for QI. State variation matters too, some states have expanded these thresholds well above the federal floor, so where you live changes the answer. Full 2026 figures are in the Medicare Rights Center's limits table.

Is there an asset test, and which states dropped it?

The federal resource limit for the Medicare Savings Programs is $9,950 for a single person and $14,910 for a couple in 2026, not counting your home or one car. But 13 states plus D.C. have eliminated the asset test entirely, in those states, only income is counted, so savings can never disqualify you.

This is where the most eligible people are wrongly turned away, or turn themselves away. If you live in one of the no-asset-test states, a healthy savings balance is irrelevant. Elsewhere, the countable-resource limit still excludes your home, one vehicle, and personal belongings, so a paid-off house does not count against you.

How do I apply for a Medicare Savings Program?

Apply through your state Medicaid office, the agency that administers these programs, or ask a free SHIP counselor at 1-800-MEDICARE to file for you. You will report your income and, in most states, your resources. Approval pays your Part B premium going forward and can be retroactive, and it enrolls you in Extra Help for drugs automatically.

Because each state runs its own process, the exact form and office vary, but the counselor network can point you to the right one. Keep proof of income handy: Social Security award letters, pension statements, and recent bank statements. Once approved, watch your next Medicare or Social Security statement to confirm the premium is no longer being deducted.

What happens after I qualify?

Once you qualify, three things follow: your Part B premium stops being deducted from your Social Security check, you are automatically enrolled in Extra Help for prescription drugs, and, if you have QMB, you gain federal protection against being billed for Medicare cost-sharing. Eligibility is reviewed periodically, so keep your paperwork current.

The automatic Extra Help enrollment is the compounding benefit: one approval unlocks both premium help and roughly $5,700 in drug-cost savings. At lower incomes, a Savings Program can also be a stepping stone toward full Medicaid and dual-eligible status. Respond promptly to any renewal notice so the coverage does not lapse over paperwork.