If Medicare takes money out of your Social Security check every month, a Medicare Savings Program may be able to pay that premium for you. Learn how QMB, SLMB, and QI work, what the 2026 income and resource limits are, why your state’s rules may be more generous than the federal numbers, and how to apply.
A Medicare Program Could Save You $2,435 a Year
Could Your $202.90 Part B Premium Be Covered?
If Medicare is taking money out of your Social Security check every month, there is something worth checking.
Depending on your income, your resources, and the rules in your state, a Medicare Savings Program may actually pay that premium for you.
This is not a new rebate or a limited-time offer. These programs have existed for decades. Yet millions of people who may qualify still are not enrolled.
Why That Deduction Is So Easy to Miss
The standard Part B premium in 2026 is $202.90 a month. Over a full year, that comes to $2,434.80.
For many people, that money comes straight out of Social Security. You never write a check for it, so you may barely notice the payment happening at all.
But if you qualify for help, that is potentially another $202.90 staying in your household every month.
This is not a small program either. More than 11 million people had their Part B premiums paid by states as of October 2025. At the same time, an April 2026 AARP analysis estimated that as many as 6 million more people may be eligible but are not enrolled.
It Is Called a Medicare Program, but You Apply Through Your State
Here is where this gets confusing. It is called a Medicare Savings Program, but you normally apply through your state Medicaid agency.
Medicare provides the coverage. Social Security may deduct the premium. Your state decides whether you qualify for the assistance.
That split alone helps explain why so many people miss it.
Also, do not assume you must already have full Medicaid. Medicare Savings Programs are Medicaid eligibility groups, but getting help with Medicare costs does not necessarily mean receiving full Medicaid benefits. Someone may qualify for premium assistance even if they assumed Medicaid was not available to them.
QMB, SLMB, and QI: The Three Programs to Ask About
There are three main programs to know if you want help with the standard Part B premium. All three may pay that $202.90 premium, but the income limits and the benefits are different.
QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary)
QMB provides the broadest help. Under the federal 2026 guidelines, the monthly income limit is $1,350 for one person and $1,824 for a married couple. The federal resource limits are $9,950 for an individual and $14,910 for a couple.
QMB can pay the Part B premium, a Part A premium if you owe one, and Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments for covered services.
That last part matters. Federal law generally says Medicare providers cannot bill QMB beneficiaries for Medicare-covered Part A or Part B deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments. CMS says more than 8 million people were in the QMB group in 2023.
So if you already have QMB and you receive a bill for covered Medicare cost sharing, do not automatically assume you owe it. Check it first.
SLMB and QI
These two mainly help by paying the Part B premium.
The federal 2026 monthly income limit for SLMB is $1,616 for one person and $2,184 for a married couple. For QI, it is $1,816 for one person and $2,455 for a couple. The federal resource limits listed for these programs are $9,950 for one person and $14,910 for a couple.
QI also has one extra rule to remember. You need to apply again each year. States approve QI applications on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority for people who received QI the previous year. So if QI may apply to you, do not ignore renewal notices or put the application off.
Do Not Disqualify Yourself Using the Federal Numbers
This is probably the most important warning in the whole topic.
Those figures above are federal guidelines. They are not necessarily the final rules in your state.
Medicare says some states allow higher income or resource limits, exclude certain income or assets, or do not use an asset test for these programs at all. Income limits are also slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii.
So imagine you see that $9,950 federal resource limit and you have $12,000 in savings. You might think, “Well, that is it, I do not qualify.” Depending on where you live, that could be wrong.
Medicare itself says to apply even if you do not think you qualify. Let your state make the decision using its actual rules.
What a Medicare Savings Program Could Mean in Real Dollars
Suppose someone receives $1,600 a month before Medicare takes out the Part B premium.
After the $202.90 deduction, they are left with about $1,397 for housing, food, utilities, insurance, and everything else.
If a Medicare Savings Program pays that premium, they keep the $202.90 each month. Over twelve months, that is $2,434.80.
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There May Be Extra Help With Drug Costs Too
People who receive state help paying their Part B premium through a Medicare Savings Program automatically qualify for Extra Help with Medicare Part D prescription drug costs.
Extra Help can reduce drug plan premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other prescription costs. So the savings may go beyond the Part B premium.
Social Security accepts applications for Extra Help. Your state handles final eligibility for a Medicare Savings Program.
If you apply for Extra Help, Social Security generally sends your information to your state to begin a Medicare Savings Program application unless you tell them not to. You can also contact your state Medicaid office directly about QMB, SLMB, and QI.
How to Check and What to Gather
Start with the Medicare Savings Programs page on Medicare.gov and use the state contact information there to reach the Medicaid agency that handles applications where you live.
Ask specifically about QMB, SLMB, and QI, and ask what income and resource rules your state actually uses. Do not rely only on a national chart or an old number you found online.
Before applying, gather whatever records your state requests. That may include:
- Proof of income
- Social Security information
- Bank or investment statements
- Your Medicare card
- Information about a spouse
Requirements vary from state to state, so use your state’s current checklist rather than a general list.
If You Are Denied
If you are denied and something does not seem right, read the notice carefully.
Check whether the agency used the correct income limits, and whether it counted your income and resources properly.
The notice should explain your review or appeal rights. A SHIP counselor or a local legal aid office may also be able to help.
What This Means for You
You do not have to wait for Medicare Open Enrollment to ask about this.
Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7 for Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plan choices. Medicare Savings Programs have a separate state application process, so you can ask about eligibility outside that window.
One more number for perspective: the 2026 Medicare Trustees Report estimated that the standard Part B premium could rise to $209.50 in 2027. That is only a projection right now, not the final 2027 premium. The confirmed 2026 premium remains $202.90, and the confirmed 2026 Part B deductible is $283.
The bigger lesson is that having Medicare and Social Security does not mean every benefit you are eligible for starts automatically. Sometimes you have to know the program exists and contact the right office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays my Part B premium if I qualify?
Your state pays it through the Medicare Savings Program. That is why the application goes through your state Medicaid agency rather than through Medicare directly.
Do I need full Medicaid to get help with my Medicare premium?
No. Medicare Savings Programs are Medicaid eligibility groups, but qualifying for help with Medicare costs does not necessarily mean you receive full Medicaid benefits.
I have more savings than the federal resource limit. Should I still apply?
Yes. Some states allow higher limits, exclude certain assets, or use no asset test at all. Medicare advises applying even if you do not think you qualify, and letting your state decide.
What is the difference between QMB, SLMB, and QI?
All three may pay the Part B premium. QMB has the lowest income limits but the broadest help, since it can also cover Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. SLMB and QI have higher income limits and mainly pay the premium.
Do I have to reapply every year?
QI requires a new application each year, and states approve those on a first-come, first-served basis with priority for people who had QI the year before. Follow your state’s instructions for renewals in every program.
Does a Medicare Savings Program help with prescription costs?
Indirectly, yes. People who get state help paying the Part B premium through one of these programs automatically qualify for Extra Help, which lowers Part D drug plan costs.
Key Takeaway
Do not look at one federal number and disqualify yourself.
Check your state’s actual rules, and ask about QMB, SLMB, and QI by name.
If you qualify, that could mean keeping more than $2,400 a year that is currently coming out of your Social Security payment.
Further Reading
- Medicare Savings Programs: How to Get Help Paying Medicare Costs
- Medicare Extra Help: Lower Your Part D Drug Costs
- Medicare and Medicaid: What Dual Eligible Means
- What Is Medicare Part B? Medical Insurance Explained
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Disclosure: We may receive a referral from Chapter if you choose to use their service. Chapter is a licensed health insurance agency and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
Money Instructor provides educational information only and does not offer tax, legal, insurance, or financial advice. Program rules, income limits, and resource limits vary by state and may change. Please verify details with Medicare.gov, your state Medicaid agency, or another official source, and consult a qualified professional before making decisions about your coverage.
