Alaska Medicare Savings Programs 2026: QMB, SLMB & QI

In 2026, Alaska's Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) pay the $202.90 monthly Medicare Part B premium for low-income beneficiaries. The top tier, QMB, also erases every Medicare deductible and copay.1

Alaska sets higher income limits than the lower 48 because its Federal Poverty Level runs higher, so an Alaskan can qualify for a Medicare Savings Program with monthly income up to $2,265 for a single person or $3,064 for a couple.2

What Are Alaska Medicare Savings Programs?

Medicare Savings Programs are Medicaid-administered benefits that pay some or all of a low-income Medicare beneficiary's premiums and cost-sharing. Alaska runs its MSPs through the Alaska Division of Senior and Disabilities Services and the state Medicare Information Office. QMB, SLMB, and QI are mandatory Medicaid eligibility groups, so every state plan, including Alaska's, must cover them.2

Alaska uses its own, higher Federal Poverty Level (FPL) than the 48 contiguous states, where 100% of the FPL is about $1,330/month for one person in 2026. Because MSP income limits are set as a percentage of the FPL, Alaska's limits run above the national figures you will see on most websites, which is why an Alaskan who assumes they earn too much often still qualifies.4

QMB: Qualified Medicare Beneficiary

QMB is the most comprehensive of the three programs. In 2026 it covers:

• The Medicare Part A premium (most people pay $0 after 40 or more quarters of work)
• The $202.90 monthly Medicare Part B premium1
• The $1,736 Part A inpatient hospital deductible per benefit period
• The $283 annual Part B deductible
• All Medicare coinsurance and copays on every Medicare-covered service

For 2026, Alaska publishes an MSP income limit of $2,265/month for a single person and $3,064/month for a couple, effective April 1, 2026, and elevated above the contiguous-48 figures because of Alaska's higher FPL; the income limit includes a $20 monthly income disregard. Alaska does not publish separate QMB, SLMB, and QI dollar thresholds, so confirm the exact QMB figure with the Division of Public Assistance. QMB also automatically enrolls you in Part D Extra Help.2,3

The QMB Billing Prohibition

Federal law prohibits any Medicare provider from billing a QMB enrollee for Medicare cost-sharing, including deductibles, coinsurance, and copays, under any circumstances. The rule covers both Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage providers. If you have QMB and receive such a bill, do not pay it. Contact the Alaska Medicare Information Office or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to report it.5

SLMB: Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary

SLMB covers one benefit: the Medicare Part B premium. At the 2026 standard rate that single payment is worth $202.90 a month, or about $2,434.80 over a full year.1

To qualify, your monthly income must fall between the QMB limit and 120% of Alaska's Federal Poverty Level. Because Alaska's FPL is higher than the national standard, the Alaska SLMB dollar limits sit above the federal SLMB figures of $1,616 for a single person and $2,184 for a couple; confirm the current Alaska amounts with the state Medicare Information Office. SLMB does not pay deductibles or copays, but for a beneficiary with modest medical use, eliminating the Part B premium is the dominant saving. SLMB also confers automatic Part D Extra Help.3

QI: Qualifying Individual

QI covers the Part B premium only, the same as SLMB, but at a higher income band: from 120% up to 135% of Alaska's Federal Poverty Level. The federal QI figures are $1,816 for a single person and $2,455 for a couple, and Alaska's limits are higher still.3

Two things set QI apart from QMB and SLMB:

• First-come, first-served. QI is funded through a capped federal allotment, so Alaska enrolls on a first-come, first-served basis with a preference for prior-year enrollees. Unlike QMB and SLMB, QI is not an entitlement.
• Cannot combine with full Medicaid. A beneficiary who qualifies for full-benefit Alaska Medicaid cannot enroll in QI. They would instead qualify for QMB-Plus or SLMB-Plus, which add full Medicaid on top of the MSP benefit.

2026 Income Limits at a Glance

Use the table as a starting point, then confirm your exact figure with the Alaska Medicare Information Office, since Alaska publishes its own poverty guidelines each year.

All three programs share one 2026 resource (asset) limit: $9,950 for a single applicant and $14,910 for a couple. The federal baseline income limits these Alaska figures sit above are $1,350 (QMB), $1,616 (SLMB), and $1,816 (QI) for a single person in the 48 contiguous states.1,3

Part D Extra Help

Every QMB, SLMB, and QI enrollee in Alaska is automatically deemed eligible for full Part D Extra Help (also called the Low-Income Subsidy, or LIS) with no separate application. The deeming flows from the state to CMS each month after MSP enrollment, and if you are not already in a Part D plan, CMS auto-assigns you to a zero-premium benchmark plan.3

In 2026, full Extra Help means a $0 Part D deductible, no more than $5.10 for a generic and $12.65 for a brand-name covered drug, and $0 in further drug costs once your out-of-pocket spending reaches $2,100 for the year.6

Extra Help uses its own, higher resource limits, $16,590 for an individual and $33,100 for a couple in 2026, so some people who are over the MSP resource limit still qualify for the drug subsidy.6

What Resources Count

The MSP resource limit in 2026 is $9,950 for a single applicant and $14,910 for a couple. Several major assets do not count toward it:1

Excluded (do not count):

• Primary residence, regardless of value
• One vehicle, regardless of value
• Household goods and personal effects
• Prepaid burial arrangements

Counted:

• Checking and savings accounts
• Stocks, bonds, and CDs
• A second vehicle or investment property
• Non-exempt cash-value life insurance

Many Alaska beneficiaries rule themselves out because they assume their home counts. It does not. An applicant living in a paid-off house can still qualify for QMB or SLMB as long as their bank balances and financial assets fall within the limit.

How to Apply for Alaska Medicare Savings Programs

Where to Get Help

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The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.