Medicare Savings Programs

What it is:

Medicare Savings Programs help Medicare recipients pay for all or part of their Medicare premiums.

Who is eligible:

Medicare recipients who meet income and resource requirements.

Programs available:

• Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program (QMB)
• Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary Program (SLMB)
• Qualified Individual(QI-1) Program

Resource requirements for cost-sharing programs:

For any of the cost-sharing programs your resources (assets) must be under $7,080 for an individual and $10,620 for a couple.

Examples of resources:

• Cash
• Bank accounts
• Certificates of deposits
• Savings bonds
• Stocks
• Real property (except the home you live in)
• Recreational vehicles

Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program

QMB pays your Part B Medicare premium, and the cost, if any, of your Part A premium. QMB also pays your Medicare co-payments and deductibles. To be eligible your income must be no more than:

• $958 per month for one person, or
• $1,293 per month for a couple

Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)& Qualified Individual(QI-1) Program: The Part B premium is ...

• Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB):
  • $1,149 per month for one person, or
  • $1,551 per month for a couple
• Qualified Individual(QI-1) Program:
  • $1,293 per month for one person, or
  • $1,745 per month for a couple

How to apply:

You can apply for QMB, SLMB, or QI-1 at your services online or at your local Community Services Office.

As with all our programs, the only way to know for sure if you are eligible is to apply.