Medicare Savings Programs: Who Qualifies and What They Pay
Your state can pay your Part B premium, and sometimes all your Medicare deductibles and coinsurance, if your income and savings are limited. Qualifying also signs you up for Extra Help with drug costs. Check the 2026 limits below.
Do you qualify?
—
Uses the 2026 limits for the 48 states and DC. Alaska and Hawaii limits are higher, and many states count income and savings more generously (some have no resource limit), so if you’re close, apply anyway. Your state Medicaid office decides. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
The three programs, 2026 limits
| Program | What it pays | Monthly income, one person | Monthly income, couple |
|---|---|---|---|
| QMB | Part A and B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance and copays | $1,350 | $1,824 |
| SLMB | Part B premium | $1,616 | $2,184 |
| QI | Part B premium (first-come, first-served) | $1,816 | $2,455 |
Resource limit for all three: $9,950 for one person, $14,910 for a couple. Income limits are 100%, 120% and 135% of the federal poverty level plus the $20 of monthly income that isn’t counted. 48 states and DC; Alaska and Hawaii are higher.
What QMB protects you from
With QMB, doctors and hospitals that take Medicare can’t bill you for Medicare-covered services, even the 20% coinsurance. If you get a bill, show your QMB card or the Medicare Summary Notice, which says you owe nothing. That protection is worth far more than the Part B premium if you need a lot of care.
How to apply
Apply through your state Medicaid office, not Social Security. Many states let you apply online. Bring proof of income (Social Security letter, pension statements), bank statements and your Medicare card. If you’re approved, the state starts paying your Part B premium and your Social Security check goes up by that amount.
Close to the limits? Apply anyway. States can disregard more income and savings than the federal floor, and some don’t count resources at all for these programs. The only way to know is to apply.
Questions
Does a Medicare Savings Program also give me Extra Help?
Yes. If you qualify for QMB, SLMB or QI, you automatically get Extra Help paying for Part D drugs, with no separate application.
What counts as resources?
Money in checking and savings accounts, stocks, bonds and mutual funds. Your home, one car, household goods and burial plots don’t count, and burial funds up to a limit are excluded.
Can I have a Medicare Savings Program and a Medicare Advantage plan?
Yes. The program pays your Part B premium either way. With QMB, providers still can’t bill you Medicare cost sharing for covered services.
Why does QI say first-come, first-served?
QI is funded each year with a fixed amount. States approve applications in order, with priority for people who had QI the year before, so apply early in the year.
Sources
Official sources only, checked October 22, 2026.
- Medicare.gov, “Medicare Savings Programs” (2026 income and resource limits) — medicare.gov.
- Social Security Administration, POMS HI 00815.023 (MSP income limits as a share of the poverty level) — secure.ssa.gov.
- Medicare.gov, “Help with drug costs” (Extra Help limits) — medicare.gov.
Educational information, not legal or financial advice. We are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. · Advertiser disclosure