What Is the Medicare Savings Program? 2026 Income Limits for QMB, SLMB and QI

Short answer: A Medicare Savings Program is help from your state with Medicare costs. All of them help pay premiums, and if you qualify, they might also pay Part A and Part B deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. The broadest one, the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program, covers Part B deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. For 2026, the federal Medicare Savings Program income limits for an individual are $1,350 a month for QMB, $1,616 for SLMB and $1,816 for QI, with a $9,950 resource limit. You apply through your state.

For retirees on a fixed income, Medicare premiums are one of the few costs that come out of every month's budget. In 2026 the standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month, which works out to $2,434.80 for the year (our math). A Medicare Savings Program can take that bill off your plate, and it can open the door to lower prescription drug costs too.

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What Is the Medicare Savings Program?

"Medicare Savings Program" is the umbrella name for four programs run by state agencies. Medicare.gov says they help pay Part A and Part B premiums, and if you qualify, they might also pay Part A and Part B deductibles, coinsurance and copayments.

For context, here are the 2026 Medicare costs these programs can cover, from Medicare.gov:

• Part B premium: $202.90 a month for most people (higher for some people based on income).
• Part B deductible: $283 before Original Medicare starts to pay.
• Part A premium: most people pay $0. People who have to buy Part A pay $311 or $565 a month, depending on how long they or their spouse paid Medicare taxes.
• Part A deductible: $1,736 for each inpatient hospital benefit period.

If you're still sorting out the basics, start with who qualifies for Medicare and when to sign up and what Medicare covers.

What Are the 2026 Medicare Savings Program Income Limits?

The table below shows the 2026 federal limits from Medicare.gov. Income limits are monthly. Resource limits are the total countable savings and other resources you can have.

Program	What it helps pay	Individual: monthly income / resources	Married couple: monthly income / resources
Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)	Part A premiums (if you don't have premium-free Part A), plus Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance and copayments	$1,350 / $9,950	$1,824 / $14,910
Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)	Part B premiums only	$1,616 / $9,950	$2,184 / $14,910
Qualifying Individual (QI)	Part B premiums only	$1,816 / $9,950	$2,455 / $14,910
Qualified Disabled and Working Individual (QDWI)	Part A premiums only	$5,405 / $4,000	$7,299 / $6,000

Social Security's operations manual (POMS HI 00815.023, effective February 26, 2026) explains where these numbers come from. The QMB, SLMB and QI income limits are 100%, 120% and 135% of the federal poverty level, plus $20, the monthly general income exclusion used in the SSI program. The QDWI limit is 200% of the poverty level plus the $20 exclusion and earned-income disregards. CMS rounds the monthly limits up to the nearest dollar.

Are the Limits Different in Alaska and Hawaii?

Yes. The same SSA manual lists higher 2026 monthly income limits for those two states:

Program	Alaska: individual / couple	Hawaii: individual / couple
QMB	$1,683 / $2,275	$1,550 / $2,095
SLMB	$2,015 / $2,725	$1,856 / $2,509
QI	$2,265 / $3,064	$2,086 / $2,821

Can You Qualify Above the Federal Limits?

Possibly. Medicare.gov says you may qualify in some states even if your income or resources are above the federal limits, because some states don't count certain income or resources. SSA's manual adds that states can effectively raise the QMB, SLMB and QI limits by disregarding certain amounts, and that some states have used this to effectively eliminate the resource test. That's why Medicare.gov's advice is direct: even if you don't think you qualify, you should still apply.

What Is the Difference Between QMB, SLMB and QI?

All three help with Part B premiums. The differences are what else they pay and how they work:

• QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) is the broadest. On top of premiums, it covers Part B deductibles, coinsurance and copayments for covered services. Medicare.gov says that if you're in the QMB program, providers can't bill you for Medicare-covered services and items, including deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. You may still get a bill for a small Medicaid copayment, if one applies. Show your Medicare card and your Medicaid or QMB card each time you get care. With Original Medicare, you can also show your Medicare Summary Notice.
• SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary) pays Part B premiums only. You need both Part A and Part B to qualify.
• QI (Qualifying Individual) also pays Part B premiums only and requires both Part A and Part B. Medicare.gov notes three extra rules: you must reapply every year, applications are approved first-come, first-served (with priority for people who got QI the year before), and QI is only for people who don't qualify for other Medicaid coverage or benefits.

The fourth program, QDWI, is narrower. It pays Part A premiums for people who have a disability, are working, and lost premium-free Part A and Social Security disability benefits because they returned to work.

How Does a Medicare Savings Program Help With Drug Costs?

Qualifying for QMB, SLMB or QI also gets you Extra Help, the program that lowers costs for Medicare drug coverage (Part D). Medicare.gov says people in these programs pay no more than $12.65 per covered drug in 2026.

Medicare.gov lists three ways to get Extra Help automatically: having full-benefit Medicaid, getting help from your state paying your Part B premiums through a Medicare Savings Program, or getting SSI payments. If none of those applies, you can apply for Extra Help on its own. Medicare.gov lists 2026 Extra Help limits of $23,940 in income and $18,090 in resources for an individual, and $32,460 in income and $36,100 in resources for a married couple, and notes these limits may go up each year.

To see how drug costs are capped for everyone with Part D, read our guide to the Medicare Part D out-of-pocket maximum.

How Do You Apply for a Medicare Savings Program?

You apply through your state, because only the state can decide whether you qualify. Here's how to get started:

1. Contact your state's Medicaid office. Medicare.gov links to Medicaid.gov's list of state contacts. Ask for the Medicare Savings Program application.
2. Consider applying for Extra Help at the same time. Medicare.gov says you can apply for Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs at the same time. Social Security's manual says an Extra Help application starts the Medicare Savings Program process with your state unless you object, because SSA sends your information to the state Medicaid agency.
3. Get free help if you need it. Medicare.gov says your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) can give you free help applying for Extra Help.
4. Follow up with the state. SSA refers questions about the status of a Medicare Savings Program application to the state Medicaid agency.
5. If you get QI, put a reminder on your calendar. QI must be renewed every year.

How Does This Fit Into a Retirement Budget?

Medicare premiums and cost-sharing are a planning item, not a footnote. A few points to keep in mind:

• Check again when your situation changes. If your income or savings go down, compare them with the limits again. A program you didn't qualify for when you first signed up for Medicare may be within reach later.
• The limits change. The figures above are for 2026. Check Medicare.gov or your state each year.
• Higher income works the other way. At the top of the income range, Medicare charges more, not less. Our guide to Medicare IRMAA after a home sale explains how income-related premiums work.

If you're mapping out your overall retirement income, our retirement savings calculator can help you see how savings, withdrawals and fixed costs like Medicare premiums fit together.

The Bottom Line

Medicare Savings Programs are state-run help with Medicare costs. All four pay premiums, and QMB also covers Part B deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. For 2026, the federal limits for an individual start at $1,350 a month in income for QMB and $9,950 in resources, but some states are more generous, so it's worth applying if you're close. Qualifying also brings Extra Help with prescription drug costs. Apply through your state's Medicaid office, and ask your local SHIP if you want free help with Extra Help.

Frequently asked questions

What is the income limit for the Medicare Savings Program in 2026?

For an individual, the 2026 federal monthly income limits 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. Alaska and Hawaii have higher limits, and some states don't count certain income or resources, so check with your state.

What is the difference between QMB and SLMB?

QMB helps pay Part A premiums (if you don't have premium-free Part A) and Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. SLMB helps pay Part B premiums only, and you need both Part A and Part B to qualify.

Can a doctor bill me if I'm in the QMB program?

Medicare.gov says that if you're in the QMB program, providers can't bill you for Medicare-covered services and items, including deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. You may still get a bill for a small Medicaid copayment, if one applies.

Do I get Extra Help automatically if I'm in a Medicare Savings Program?

Yes. Medicare.gov lists a Medicare Savings Program as one of the ways to get Extra Help automatically, along with full-benefit Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Should I apply if my income is a little over the limit?

Medicare.gov says you should still apply even if you don't think you qualify. Some states don't count certain income or resources, and Social Security's operations manual notes that some states have effectively dropped the resource test for these programs.

Sources

1. Medicare.gov: Medicare Savings Programs
2. SSA POMS HI 00815.023: Medicare Savings Programs Income and Resource Limits (effective 02/26/2026)
3. SSA POMS HI 00815.024: SSA's Role in Medicare Savings Programs (MSP) Applications
4. Medicare.gov: Help With Drug Costs (Extra Help)
5. Medicare.gov: Medicare Costs

This guide is general information, not personal advice. Your situation may differ, so consider talking with a qualified professional, such as a fiduciary financial adviser, CPA or licensed agent, before making a decision.