California's four Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) can wipe out or shrink what you pay for Medicare. The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) runs them under Medi-Cal, using California's own income limits rather than the federal-floor figures most states publish. On January 1, 2026, California reinstated an asset test for all four programs after the pandemic-era suspension ended.

What Are Medicare Savings Programs?

Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) are state Medicaid programs that help low-income Medicare beneficiaries pay Medicare's premiums, deductibles, and cost-sharing. In California, MSPs are administered by California DHCS through Medi-Cal. Qualifying automatically stops Social Security from deducting the Part B premium from your monthly check.

There are four distinct programs, each covering a different scope of Medicare costs.

The Four Programs: What Each One Covers

Program What It Pays Monthly Income Limit (Individual) Monthly Income Limit (Couple)
QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) Part A premium, Part B premium, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments $1,330 $1,804
SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary) Part B premium only $1,596 $2,165
QI (Qualifying Individual) Part B premium only $1,796 $2,436
QDWI (Qualified Disabled and Working Individual) Part A premium only $2,660 $3,608

Income limits from the California DHCS Medicare Savings Programs page, verified June 2026.

QMB: The Most Valuable Program

QMB is the broadest MSP. It pays your Medicare Part A premium (if you owe one), your Part B premium of $202.90/month in 2026, plus your Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copays, including the $283 Part B annual deductible for 2026. QMB beneficiaries are also protected from balance billing by Medicare-participating providers.

Income limit: $1,330/month for one person; $1,804/month for a couple. California publishes these as gross income limits, before the standard $20/month general income disregard that both Social Security and Medicaid apply. In practice, a person with about $1,350/month in Social Security income may still qualify once the $20 disregard is subtracted. If you are close to the limit, apply and let DHCS run the calculation.

QMB and cost-sharing protections. Medicare providers who participate in Medicare (virtually all do) cannot charge a QMB beneficiary more than the Medicare-approved amount, under any circumstances. If a provider bills a QMB beneficiary for a copay, coinsurance, or deductible, that bill is improper, so dispute it and do not pay it. The Medicare Rights Center can help with billing complaints at 1-888-466-9050.

SLMB: Part B Premium Help for Middle-Income Seniors

SLMB pays the Part B premium only. At $202.90/month in 2026, that is $2,434.80 a year ($202.90 x 12) that SLMB keeps in your pocket.

Income limit: $1,596/month for one person; $2,165/month for a couple.

SLMB does not cover deductibles, coinsurance, or copays. For that broader protection, see QMB above or look at Medigap coverage separately. Because QMB, SLMB, and QI share one asset test and sit on adjacent income bands, a reader who is just over the QMB line usually still lands in SLMB or QI rather than falling out of help entirely.

QI: Part B Premium Help at Higher Incomes

QI also pays the Part B premium only, at an income band just above SLMB. Unlike QMB and SLMB, QI enrollment is funded through a capped annual federal appropriation. States enroll beneficiaries on a first-come, first-served basis each year, so if you qualify for QI, apply early in the calendar year.

Income limit: $1,796/month for one person; $2,436/month for a couple.

Two conditions matter for QI. First, you cannot hold QI and full Medicaid at the same time. Second, QI enrollment does not trigger Medicaid estate recovery, because California's estate recovery rules do not apply to MSP-only enrollment.

QDWI: Part A Premium Help for Working Disabled Individuals

QDWI helps people who lost premium-free Medicare Part A because they returned to work. It pays the Part A premium, which is $565/month in 2026 for people with fewer than 30 quarters of Medicare-covered work.

Income limit: $2,660/month for one person; $3,608/month for a couple.

QDWI is a narrow program, serving mainly people in a Social Security work-incentive period or an extended-Medicare period after a disability.

The Reinstated Asset Limit: What Changed on January 1, 2026

For two years, California suspended the asset test for MSPs under the same AB 116-era policy that suspended Medi-Cal asset limits broadly. On January 1, 2026, the asset test was reinstated.

Current asset limits (all four MSP programs):

  • Individual: $130,000
  • Couple: $195,000 (i.e., $130,000 plus $65,000 for the second person)

These figures mirror the reinstated non-MAGI Medi-Cal asset limits, and they are far more generous than the $9,950 individual / $14,910 couple resource limit the federal MSP standard uses. Exempt assets include the primary residence, one vehicle, household goods and personal effects, irrevocable burial trusts, and term life insurance. IRAs in required-minimum-distribution status are treated as income rather than a countable asset.

Three populations remain exempt from the asset test entirely: Pickle Amendment recipients, Disabled Adult Children (DAC), and Disabled Widow(er)s (DWW). If you fall into one of these categories, the asset limit does not apply to you. SSI recipients are also a special case: California enrolls them in full Medi-Cal automatically, and they stay under SSI's own $2,000 individual / $3,000 couple asset limits (the 2026 SSI Federal Benefit Rate is $994/month for an individual).,

If your countable assets were above the prior no-limit rule but are below $130,000, you still qualify. If you previously qualified and now find your assets close to $130,000, a California Health Advocates counselor or HICAP can review your situation.

How to Apply for California Medicare Savings Programs

California MSPs are processed through the Medi-Cal application system. Here is the path from application to a stopped premium.

1
Step 1

Gather your income and asset records

Have your Social Security award letter, recent bank statements, and details on any retirement accounts ready. California counts assets again as of January 1, 2026, so documentation of what you own matters.

2
Step 2

Submit a Medi-Cal application

Apply online through myBenefits California, in person at your county Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), also called the county welfare office, or by phone with your county office if it accepts phone applications.

3
Step 3

Let DHCS determine your program

After you apply, DHCS reviews your income and assets and enrolls you in the most beneficial program you qualify for: QMB, SLMB, QI, or QDWI.

4
Step 4

Watch for your premium to stop

Once QMB, SLMB, or QI is approved, DHCS notifies Medicare automatically, and the Part B premium deduction stops from your Social Security check within one to two months of approval.

You do not need to reapply as your income or situation changes. DHCS reassigns you to the most beneficial program you qualify for at your annual redetermination.

Where to Get Help

California HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program) California's State Health Insurance Assistance Program. HICAP counselors give free, unbiased help with MSP enrollment, Medicare plan choices, billing complaints, and appeals. 1-800-434-0222 aging.ca.gov
Your County Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Takes and processes your Medi-Cal and MSP application, and determines which program you qualify for based on income and assets. myBenefits California
Medicare Rights Center Independent help with wrongful QMB bills, coverage denials, and Medicare appeals. 1-888-466-9050 medicarerights.org

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the QMB income limit in California for 2026?

California's QMB income limit for 2026 is $1,330/month for an individual and $1,804/month for a couple. These are gross income limits before the $20 general income disregard, meaning your effective qualifying income may be up to $20 higher.

Does California MSP cover the Part B premium?

Yes. SLMB, QI, and QMB all pay the Part B premium, which is $202.90/month in 2026. QMB also covers Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. QDWI covers the Part A premium only.

Is there an asset limit to qualify for California's Medicare Savings Programs in 2026?

Yes, as of January 1, 2026. The reinstated limit is $130,000 for one person and $195,000 for a couple, and it applies to all four MSP programs. Certain populations (Pickle Amendment recipients, DAC, and DWW) are exempt from this limit.

Can I have both Medi-Cal and a Medicare Savings Program?

Yes. If you qualify for full Medi-Cal (such as through the Aged and Disabled FPL Program) and Medicare, you are a dual eligible, and MSP enrollment is typically automatic. One exception: QI cannot coexist with full Medicaid. Your Medi-Cal case worker can confirm which program you are enrolled in.

Where do I apply for California Medicare Savings Programs?

Apply through myBenefits California online, or at your county Department of Health and Social Services office. HICAP counselors (1-800-434-0222) can guide you through the application and help document income and assets.

Does QMB protect me from Medicare copays and balance billing?

Yes. QMB beneficiaries are protected under federal law from being charged Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copays by Medicare-participating providers, under any circumstances. If a provider bills you those amounts, the bill is improper, so file a complaint with your State Medical Assistance (Medicaid) office or contact the Medicare Rights Center at 1-888-466-9050.

Your next step Apply through myBenefits California, or call California HICAP at 1-800-434-0222 for free help checking which of the four programs fits your income and assets before you file.

Learn More

MedicaidMedicare Savings Programs by State: QMB, SLMB, and QI LimitsMedicare Savings Programs help pay your Part B premium, and the limits differ by state. See the 2026 QMB, SLMB, and QI limits and jump to your state's guide. MedicaidMedi-Cal Eligibility and Income LimitsMedi-Cal income and asset limits for 2026: MAGI, the SSI pathway, the $2,982 long-term-care cap, Share-of-Cost, spousal rules, and the reinstated asset test. MedicaidPersonal Needs Allowance ExplainedHow the Medicaid Personal Needs Allowance works in 2026: the $30 federal floor, state figures from $30 to $200, and how patient liability is calculated. MedicaidMedicaid Estate Recovery ExplainedMedicaid estate recovery explained: federal law, 51-state matrix, categorical protections, hardship waivers, and 2025-2026 reform updates. Verify before acting.

Find personalized help with California Medicare Savings Programs enrollment and Medi-Cal eligibility at brevy.com.

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.

BC

Brevy Care Team

Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.