https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/help/medicare-savings-programs
Get help from your state paying your
Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)
and
Part B (Medical Insurance)
premiums through a Medicare Savings Program. If you qualify, Medicare Savings Programs might also pay your Part A and Part B deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.
You’ll apply for Medicare Savings Programs through your state. When you apply, your state determines which program(s) you qualify for. Even if you don’t think you qualify, you should still apply.
What’s a premium, deductible, coinsurance, or copayment?
How to qualify for the 4 Medicare Savings Programs
In many cases, to qualify for a Medicare Savings Program, you must have income and resources below a certain limit, as described below. These limits go up each year.
You may still qualify for these programs even if your income or resources are higher than the limits listed. Some states don’t count certain types or specific amounts of income or resources when deciding who qualifies.
Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program
Helps pay for: Part A premiums; Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments (for services and items Medicare covers).
Monthly income and resource limits for 2022:
| Your situation: | Monthly income limit:* | Resource limit: What counts in resource limits? |
| Individual | $1,153 | $8,400 |
| Married couple | $1,546 | $12,600 |
* Limits slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii
If you qualify for the QMB program:
Extra Help
paying for your prescription drugs. You’ll pay no more than $4 in 2022 for each drug covered by your Medicare drug plan.
Show both your Medicare card and Medicaid card (or QMB card) each time you get care. If you have Original Medicare, you can also show one of your claims statements, called Medicare Summary Notices. These statements show you’re in the QMB program. Get a sample of a Medicare Summary Notice.
Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) Program
Helps pay for: Part B premiums (You must have both Part A and Part B to qualify.)
Monthly income and resource limits for 2022:
| Your situation: | Monthly income limit:* | Resource limit: What counts in resource limits? |
| Individual | $1,379 | $8,400 |
| Married couple | $1,851 | $12,600 |
* Limits slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii
If you qualify for the SLMB Program:
Extra Help
paying for your prescription drugs.
Qualifying Individual (QI) Program
Helps pay for: Part B premiums (You must have both Part A and Part B to qualify.)
Monthly income and resource limits for 2022:
| Your situation: | Monthly income limit:* | Resource limit: What counts in resource limits? |
| Individual | $1,549 | $8,400 |
| Married couple | $2,080 | $12,600 |
* Limits slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii
If you qualify for the QI program:
Extra Help
paying for your prescription drugs. You’ll pay no more than $9.85 in 2022 for each drug your Medicare drug plan covers
If you qualify for
Medicaid
, you can’t get help from the QI program, but you may qualify for help from another Medicare Savings Program.
Qualified Disabled Working Individual (QDWI) Program
You may qualify for the QDWI Program if you:
Helps pay for: Part A premiums only
Monthly income and resource limits for 2022:
| Your situation: | Monthly income limit:* | Resource limit: What counts in resource limits? |
| Individual | $4,615 | $4,000 |
| Married couple | $6,189 | $6,000 |
* Limits slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii
How to apply for a Medicare Savings Program
These programs are run by your state. Contact your state to apply.
What do you want to do next?
