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Medicare Savings Programs: what they pay, the 2026 limits, and how to apply
If your income and savings are limited, your state may pay your Medicare Part B premium, and sometimes more. Most people who could qualify never apply. This guide covers what each program pays, the 2026 federal limits, how to apply, and a private quick check you can run on your own numbers.
Figures as of October 2026. Source for every 2026 limit: Medicare.gov, Medicare Savings Programs. Jump to the quick check.
What is a Medicare Savings Program?
A Medicare Savings Program (MSP) is a state program that helps people with limited income and savings pay Medicare costs. There are four: QMB, SLMB, QI and QDWI. Depending on the program, your state may pay your Part A or Part B premium, and with QMB, also your deductibles, coinsurance and copayments.
Medicare.gov says your state decides which program you qualify for when you apply, and that you should apply even if you do not think you qualify. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026 (Medicare.gov, Medicare costs), about $2,435 over 12 months. That is the bill most of these programs take over.
Quick check: which programs might you qualify for?
Enter your household size, monthly income and savings to see which programs' 2026 federal limits your numbers fall under. It runs in your browser only. Nothing is saved, sent or tracked. Your state may be more generous than the federal limits, so treat the result as a hint, not a decision.
Not affiliated with Medicare or any government agency. This is a general education tool, not an application and not a decision. It uses the 2026 federal limits only (higher in Alaska and Hawaii, and many states are more generous). It never says you qualify, because only your state can decide. If you are close, apply anyway. Your numbers stay in your browser.
What does each program pay?
QMB pays the most: Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance and copayments, plus Part A premiums if you do not have premium-free Part A. SLMB and QI pay Part B premiums only. QDWI pays Part A premiums only, for certain people with disabilities who went back to work.
| Program | What it helps pay | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) | Part A premiums if you have none free; Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance and copayments | Medicare providers are not allowed to bill you for services Medicare covers. Show your Medicare card and your Medicaid or QMB card. |
| SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary) | Part B premiums only | You must have both Part A and Part B. |
| QI (Qualifying Individual) | Part B premiums only | You must apply every year. States approve on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority for people who had QI the year before. Not available if you qualify for other Medicaid. |
| QDWI (Qualified Disabled and Working Individual) | Part A premiums only | For people with a disability who lost premium-free Part A and Social Security disability benefits because they returned to work. |
If you qualify for QMB, SLMB or QI, you also get Extra Help paying for prescription drugs, and in 2026 you pay no more than $12.65 for each drug your Medicare drug plan covers. Source: Medicare.gov, Medicare Savings Programs, as of October 2026.
What are the 2026 income and resource limits?
For 2026, the federal monthly income limits for one person are $1,350 for QMB, $1,616 for SLMB and $1,816 for QI. For a married couple they are $1,824, $2,184 and $2,455. The resource limit is $9,950 for one person and $14,910 for a couple. Alaska and Hawaii are slightly higher.
| Program | Income per month, one person | Income per month, married couple | Resources, one / couple |
|---|---|---|---|
| QMB | $1,350 | $1,824 | $9,950 / $14,910 |
| SLMB | $1,616 | $2,184 | $9,950 / $14,910 |
| QI | $1,816 | $2,455 | $9,950 / $14,910 |
| QDWI | $5,405 | $7,299 | $4,000 / $6,000 |
Medicare.gov says states do not count your home, one car, a burial plot, up to $1,500 set aside for burial expenses, furniture and other household and personal items as resources. Money in checking, savings or retirement accounts, stocks and bonds does count. These limits go up each year. Check Medicare.gov for the newest numbers.
Do some states have higher limits or no asset test?
Yes. Medicare.gov says you may qualify in your state even if your income or resources are above the federal limits, because some states do not count certain income or resources. Below are the states we could confirm on the state's own agency website. If yours is not listed, that does not mean it is stricter. Call and ask.
| State | What the state says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No resource (savings) test for the Medicare Savings Program. Income limits match the federal ones. | Alabama Medicaid, 2026 income limits chart |
| Connecticut | No asset limit. Income limits are higher than federal: QMB up to 211% of the federal poverty level (about $2,807 a month for one person), SLMB up to 231%. | Connecticut DSS, QMB page; program standards chart effective 3/1/2026 |
| District of Columbia | Higher income limit: QMB up to 300% of the federal poverty level (about $4,010 a month for one person). The page does not address savings limits. | DC Department of Health Care Finance, QMB page |
| Louisiana | No resource limit listed for QMB, SLMB or QI (marked not applicable). | Louisiana Department of Health, eligibility chart Z-900 (January 2026) |
| Maine | The state removed the asset test for its Medicare Savings Program, and says asset tests do not apply to MSP benefits. | MaineCare options page; rule change effective July 1, 2024 |
| New York | Higher income limit: QMB at 138% of the federal poverty level (about $1,836 a month for one person, plus a $20 disregard) and QI below 186%. The page does not address savings limits. | NY State Department of Health, Medicare Savings Program (revised May 2026) |
| Oregon | No asset limit for these programs. | Oregon Department of Human Services, Medicare Savings Programs |
| Vermont | No resource limit for QMB and QI. Income limits are higher: QMB up to 150% of the federal poverty level (about $1,995 a month for one person). | Vermont DVHA, Medicare Savings Program |
Other states may also be more generous. We list only what we could confirm on a state agency page. Limits change, so confirm with your state before you rely on a figure.
How do I apply?
Contact your state to apply, since these programs are run by the states. Medicare.gov says to apply even if you do not think you qualify. Call 1-800-MEDICARE to be pointed to your state office, or call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free, local help with the application.
- Find your state's office. Start at Medicare.gov, Talk to someone or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048). Ask for your state Medicaid program and the Medicare Savings Program application by name.
- Get free help. Every state has a SHIP. Find yours at shiphelp.org. Counselors can help you fill in the form at no cost.
- Have these ready: your Medicare card, proof of income (a Social Security award letter, pension statements), proof of savings (bank and investment statements), and your Social Security number. If you are married, bring the same for your spouse.
- Say what you want. Try: "I'd like to apply for a Medicare Savings Program. Can you tell me this year's income and resource limits for my state?"
- Write it down. Note the date, the name of the person and any reference number.
Never pay anyone to apply. Applying is free, and Medicare will never call you to sell you anything. See Medicare.gov, reporting fraud.
What are the most common mistakes?
The biggest mistake is not applying because you assume you earn too much. Others: forgetting QI must be renewed every year, comparing only your own income when you are married, and not showing both cards when a provider bills you. Small differences in how a state counts income can change the result.
- Assuming you earn too much. Medicare.gov says some states do not count certain income or resources, so the federal numbers are not the last word.
- Letting QI lapse. Medicare.gov says you must apply every year to stay in QI.
- Using the wrong household number. The couple limits apply to a married couple. A couple's income and savings are added together.
- Paying a bill you should not. With QMB, Medicare providers are not allowed to bill you for Medicare-covered services, including deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. Show both cards. If you get a bill, ask the provider about it, and call 1-800-MEDICARE.
- Using old numbers. Limits change every year. This page shows 2026 limits, as of October 2026.
- Skipping the drug savings. QMB, SLMB and QI come with Extra Help for prescriptions. You do not need a separate application for it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the income limit for Medicare Savings Programs in 2026?
The 2026 federal monthly income limits for one person are $1,350 for QMB, $1,616 for SLMB and $1,816 for QI. For a married couple they are $1,824, $2,184 and $2,455. Limits are slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii, and some states use higher limits.
How much savings can I have and still qualify?
The 2026 federal resource limit for QMB, SLMB and QI is $9,950 for one person and $14,910 for a married couple. Your home, one car, a burial plot, up to $1,500 set aside for burial expenses and furniture are not counted. Some states do not count other resources either.
What is the difference between QMB, SLMB and QI?
QMB pays Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance and copayments, plus Part A premiums if you have none free. SLMB and QI pay Part B premiums only. QI has a yearly renewal and first-come, first-served approval. Your state decides which program fits you.
Will a Medicare Savings Program pay my Part B premium?
QMB, SLMB and QI can all pay the Part B premium. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026, about $2,435 over 12 months. Qualifying also gets you Extra Help with prescription drug costs.
How do I apply for a Medicare Savings Program?
Contact your state, because the states run these programs. Ask your state Medicaid program for the Medicare Savings Program application. Call 1-800-MEDICARE for help finding your state office, or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free, local help.
Should I apply if my income is a little over the limit?
Yes. Medicare.gov says you should apply even if you do not think you qualify, because some states do not count certain income or resources. The state decides, so the only way to find out is to apply.
Do I have to renew a Medicare Savings Program every year?
For QI, yes. Medicare.gov says you must apply every year to stay in the QI program, and states approve applications first-come, first-served with priority for people who had QI the year before. Ask your state how it handles renewals for QMB and SLMB.
Does it cost anything to apply?
No. Applying through your state is free, and SHIP counseling is free. Never pay anyone to apply, and remember that Medicare will never call you to sell you anything.
Sources
Figures are as of October 2026. Rules and limits change, so check the page before you rely on a number.
- Medicare Savings Programs (programs, 2026 limits, how to apply). https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/help/medicare-savings-programs
- Medicare costs (2026 Part B premium). https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/medicare-costs
- Talk to someone (find your state office). https://www.medicare.gov/talk-to-someone
- Reporting Medicare fraud and abuse. https://www.medicare.gov/basics/reporting-medicare-fraud-and-abuse
- Extra Help with drug costs (automatic with a Medicare Savings Program). https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/help/drug-costs
General education only, not financial, tax, legal or medical advice. Your situation may differ. Ask Margaret is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or part of Medicare, CMS, Medicaid or any government agency.
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