If you are on a fixed income and Medicare premiums feel like a growing burden, Medicare Savings Programs could quietly erase some of your biggest monthly costs. Medicare Savings Programs help millions of beneficiaries pay for Part A and Part B, and in 2026 the income limits are higher than many people expect. This guide covers the four Medicare Savings Programs, the 2026 income and asset limits, and the exact steps to apply.
What Are Medicare Savings Programs?
Medicare Savings Programs are state-run benefits, funded through Medicaid, that help people with limited income and resources pay their Medicare costs. Unlike full Medicaid, they do not require you to give up your existing Medicare coverage. They simply pay some or all of your Part A and Part B costs on top of it.
They are run by your state’s Medicaid office, so the application and, in some states, the income cutoff can look slightly different depending on where you live. The federal numbers below are the baseline that most states use.
The Four Medicare Savings Programs Explained
There are four Medicare Savings Programs, and each one covers a different slice of your Medicare bill. Knowing which one fits your income is the first step toward applying for the right one.
QMB: Qualified Medicare Beneficiary
QMB is the most generous of the Medicare Savings Programs. It pays your Part A premium (if you have one), your Part B premium, and your deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. Federal law bars providers from billing a QMB enrollee for that Medicare cost sharing, so a QMB enrollee should never see a surprise bill for a covered service.
SLMB: Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary
SLMB pays only the Part B premium, which is $202.90 a month in 2026. That is worth roughly $2,434.80 a year. SLMB does not cover deductibles or copays.
QI: Qualifying Individual
QI also pays the Part B premium, but the funding is capped and awarded first come, first served, so you need to reapply every year. If you qualify for Medicaid, you cannot also use this program.
QDWI: Qualified Disabled and Working Individual
QDWI is the narrowest of the Medicare Savings Programs. It helps certain people under 65 who returned to work and lost premium-free Part A pay their Part A premium, which runs $518 a month in 2026 for someone with fewer than 30 work credits.
2026 Income and Asset Limits for Medicare Savings Programs
The table below shows the 2026 federal baseline monthly income limits used by most states for Medicare Savings Programs. Alaska, Hawaii, and several other states set their own, higher cutoffs, so check with your state Medicaid office if you are close to the line.
| Program | Single, monthly income | Couple, monthly income | Resource limit (single/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 |
These figures already include the standard $20 income disregard, so they are the effective cutoffs most caseworkers use. If your income is slightly over a limit, it is still worth applying, since some income (like certain wages or in-kind support) is not always counted.
Example: Maria is 68, single, and receives $1,780 a month from Social Security. That is too high for QMB ($1,350) or SLMB ($1,616), but it falls under the QI cutoff of $1,816. She likely qualifies for QI, which would cover her $202.90 Part B premium every month, or about $2,434.80 a year. A call to her state Medicaid office confirmed she qualified without needing to touch her modest savings, which sat comfortably under the $9,950 resource limit.
Who Qualifies for Medicare Savings Programs
To qualify for Medicare Savings Programs, you generally need to:
- Have Medicare Part A (Part A alone is enough to apply for QMB, SLMB, or QI)
- Have monthly income at or below the limit for the program you are applying for
- Have resources, such as bank accounts and investments, below $9,950 (single) or $14,910 (couple) in most states
- Live in the state where you are applying
A home you live in, one vehicle, and personal belongings typically do not count toward the resource limit. Approval for any of the three main Medicare Savings Programs also automatically enrolls you in Extra Help, the federal program that lowers Part D prescription drug costs. Even if a denial letter arrives, it is worth checking again the following year, since the income limits, and sometimes your own income, can shift.
How to Apply for Medicare Savings Programs
Applying for Medicare Savings Programs takes a few steps, and doing it at the right time matters most for QI, since that program has capped, first-come funding each year.
- Contact your state Medicaid office, since Medicare Savings Programs are administered at the state level, not by Medicare itself.
- Ask for the application, sometimes listed under Medicaid or “QMB/SLMB/QI” on your state’s benefits site.
- Gather proof of income, your Medicare card, proof of residency, and a recent bank statement before you apply.
- Submit the application and follow up within a few weeks if you have not heard back, since processing times vary by state.
- If approved, watch for a notice confirming which of the Medicare Savings Programs you were enrolled in and what it covers going forward.
Some states let you apply for Medicare Savings Programs online through the same portal used for Medicaid, while others still require a paper form mailed to a local office. Either way, the eligibility rules stay tied to the federal income and resource limits above, even when the paperwork looks different from state to state.
If your income puts you just outside the limit this year, it is worth checking again after Social Security’s annual cost-of-living adjustment, since the federal poverty guidelines behind these programs also shift each year. If you are instead worried about the opposite problem, higher income pushing your premiums up, our IRMAA Calculator can show how income-related surcharges affect your future Part B and Part D costs.
Mistakes That Can Delay Your Application
A few avoidable mistakes slow down applications for Medicare Savings Programs:
- Applying for the wrong program based on outdated income limits
- Leaving out a bank statement or other required proof
- Missing the annual QI reapplication window
- Assuming a small amount of extra income disqualifies you, when some income types are excluded from the count
Bottom Line
Medicare Savings Programs can turn a monthly premium into a non-issue, and in 2026 the income limits reach further than most people assume. If your income is close to any of the figures above, it costs nothing to apply and find out for certain.
This is for informational purposes only and isn’t financial, tax, or legal advice.
Raghu Shekar writes about personal finance, banking, Medicare, and retirement planning at SimpleUSAFinance. His goal is simple: break down the numbers people actually need — no jargon, no sales pitch — so readers can make their own decisions with confidence. When he’s not writing, he’s usually digging through the latest rate changes, tax brackets, or Medicare updates to keep the site’s calculators and guides current.