Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI, QDWI): 2026 Guide

What are the Medicare Savings Programs?

Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) help people with limited income and resources pay some or all of their Medicare costs. They are funded jointly by Medicare and the states and are administered by your state Medicaid agency.

There are four programs, and which one you qualify for depends mainly on your income. As your income rises, the program covers fewer costs.

• QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary): the most generous. Pays Part A and Part B premiums, plus deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments for Medicare-covered services.
• SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary): pays only the Medicare Part B premium.
• QI (Qualifying Individual): pays only the Part B premium. Funding is limited each year and applications are handled first-come, first-served. You cannot get QI if you also qualify for full Medicaid.
• QDWI (Qualified Disabled and Working Individual): pays the Part A premium for certain working people with disabilities who lost their premium-free Part A.

2026 income and asset limits

The figures below apply to the 48 contiguous states and Washington, DC, and took effect February 26, 2026. Income limits are monthly. Note that part of your income is not counted when your state checks eligibility, so your actual paycheck or benefit can be higher than these numbers and you may still qualify.

• QMB: $1,350/month individual, $1,824/month married couple.
• SLMB: $1,616/month individual, $2,184/month married couple.
• QI: $1,816/month individual, $2,455/month married couple.
• QDWI: $5,405/month individual, $7,299/month married couple.
• Resource (asset) limit for QMB, SLMB, and QI: $9,950 individual, $14,910 married couple.
• Resource (asset) limit for QDWI: $4,000 individual, $6,000 married couple.
• Alaska and Hawaii use higher income limits. For QMB in 2026: Alaska $1,683 individual / $2,275 couple; Hawaii $1,550 individual / $2,095 couple.

What each program pays for in 2026

The Part B standard premium is $202.90 a month in 2026, so a program that pays your Part B premium puts that amount back in your pocket each month.

QMB does the most. Beyond the Part B premium, QMB also covers the 2026 Part B deductible of $283 and the 20% coinsurance you would otherwise owe on most Part B services. Importantly, federal law prohibits Medicare providers and pharmacies from billing a QMB enrollee for these costs. If you have QMB, you have no legal obligation to pay Part A or Part B deductibles, coinsurance, or copays, even when the state has not yet reimbursed the provider. If you are billed, you can tell the provider you are a QMB beneficiary.

• QMB: Part A and Part B premiums, plus Part B deductible ($283), the 20% Part B coinsurance, and other Medicare cost-sharing.
• SLMB and QI: the Part B premium ($202.90/month) only.
• QDWI: the Part A premium only (for those who must pay one).

MSP also gets you Extra Help for drug costs

If you enroll in any of the four Medicare Savings Programs, you automatically qualify for the Part D Low-Income Subsidy, commonly called Extra Help. Extra Help lowers what you pay for prescription drug coverage.

You do not have to file a separate Extra Help application. Qualifying for an MSP triggers it for you, which is one reason it is worth applying even if your income is only a little below the limits.

How to apply and who to call

You apply for a Medicare Savings Program through your state Medicaid agency, not through Social Security. To get started, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or contact your state Medicaid office directly to ask for the MSP application.

Apply even if you think you earn or own too much. Some states have no asset limit at all for MSPs, including Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, and Mississippi, and California uses much higher asset limits ($130,000 individual / $195,000 couple in 2026). Because rules vary by state, you may qualify even if your income or resources are above the federal figures listed here. The only way to know for sure is to apply with your state.

MSP vs. Medicaid, and using MSP with other coverage

A Medicare Savings Program is not the same as full Medicaid. An MSP helps pay specific Medicare costs such as premiums and, for QMB, cost-sharing. Full Medicaid is broader health coverage. Some people qualify for both; QMB enrollees who also have Medicaid are sometimes called 'dual eligible.' One exception: you cannot get the QI program if you also qualify for Medicaid.

You can have a Medicare Savings Program alongside Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan. If you have QMB and are in a Medicare Advantage plan, the QMB billing protections still apply to your Medicare cost-sharing. Whether to also carry a Medigap policy is a personal decision; if an MSP is already covering your cost-sharing, a separate Medigap plan may add little. Plan rules vary, so confirm details with your plan and your state.