Indiana Medicare Savings Programs 2026: QMB, SLMB & QI

Indiana's Medicare Savings Programs help Medicare beneficiaries with limited income pay their Part B premium, deductibles, and copays. In 2026, a single Indiana resident can qualify with monthly income up to $2,015 (QMB), $2,281 (SLMB), or $2,481 (QI), which are higher limits than the federal figures most national guides show.

What Are Indiana Medicare Savings Programs?

A Medicare Savings Program (MSP) is a Medicaid benefit that pays some or all of a low-income Medicare beneficiary's Medicare premiums and cost-sharing. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), through its Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning (OMPP), administers all three MSPs statewide, and the Division of Family Resources (DFR) decides eligibility.3,1

There are three programs, tiered by income. Every Hoosier on Medicare with limited income should check whether they qualify, because the value is substantial: the $202.90 monthly Part B premium alone, and far more once deductibles and coinsurance are covered.2

One thing sets Indiana apart from what most national guides say. The income limits on the 2026 eligibility chart published by the Indiana Department of Insurance's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) are well above the federal Medicare Savings Program figures. The chart does not say how Indiana gets there; federal guidance only notes that a state can effectively raise its limits by disregarding certain income and resources. These are 2026 figures, so check for a current-year chart before relying on them.1

Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)

QMB is the most comprehensive Indiana Medicare Savings Program. It pays:

• The Part A premium, if you owe one
• The 2026 Part B standard premium of $202.90 per month2
• The Part A inpatient hospital deductible ($1,736 per benefit period in 2026)2
• The Part B annual deductible ($283 in 2026)2
• All Medicare Part A and Part B coinsurance and copays

In 2026, Indiana's monthly income limit for QMB is $2,015 for a single applicant and $2,725 for a couple.1

QMB coverage begins the month after FSSA determines eligibility. There is no retroactive QMB under federal law (Social Security Act § 1902(e)(8)), so apply as soon as you think you may qualify.4

Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)

SLMB pays the Part B premium only: $202.90 per month in 2026.2 In 2026, Indiana's monthly income limit for SLMB is $2,281 for a single applicant and $3,086 for a couple.1

How far back SLMB can start is not settled by the federal rules. The no-retroactivity statute names QMB only, and no federal source we rely on sets a retroactive window for SLMB or QI, so ask DFR when your SLMB coverage would begin.4 For general Medicaid, the federal default reaches back up to three months before the application month, a state can be shorter under a Section 1115 demonstration, and for applications made on or after January 1, 2027 that general window drops to two months for most enrollees. Filing as early as possible protects you either way.5

Qualifying Individual (QI)

QI also pays the Part B premium only. In 2026, Indiana's monthly income limit for QI is $2,481 for a single applicant and $3,356 for a couple.1

QI is funded through a capped federal allotment and is granted first-come, first-served, with preference for prior-year enrollees. You have to apply for QI every year: being selected one year does not entitle you to assistance in any following year.1

Important: QI is only for people who don't qualify for any other Medicaid coverage, though they may still qualify for help from another Medicare Savings Program.1 An Indiana PathWays for Aging member already receives Medicaid, so QI is not the route for them.3 As with SLMB, no federal source we rely on sets a retroactive window for QI, so ask DFR when coverage would begin.4

Full Indiana MSP Comparison

The resource (asset) limit for all three programs is $9,950 for a single applicant and $14,910 for a couple in 2026.1 Not everything you own counts toward it: Indiana SHIP's chart says your home and furnishings, your car, burial plots, and at least $1,500 in life insurance do not count, and annuitized retirement savings may not be included in some circumstances.1 The same pair is the federal standard, and it is not an absolute cutoff: states can disregard certain income and resources, so apply rather than rule yourself out if you are somewhat over.1

Why Indiana's Limits Are Higher Than the Federal Numbers

Most national explainers, and even parts of medicare.gov, lead with the federal Medicare Savings Program floor: a QMB income limit of about $1,350 a month for a single person in 2026.1 A Hoosier who reads that number, sees their Social Security check is higher, and never applies is often making a mistake. Indiana SHIP's 2026 chart puts the QMB limit at $2,015 a month, well above the federal figure, and its SLMB and QI limits run higher still.1

The practical takeaway: if your income is under Indiana's limits above, apply. Not every dollar counts, either: the chart notes that $65 plus half of your earnings from work do not count toward total income. SHIP calls the limits guidelines and says the only way to know for sure is to apply, and Indiana Medicaid runs the exact income and resource test on your situation.1

The QMB Billing Prohibition

Federal law prohibits Medicare providers from billing a QMB enrollee for Medicare cost-sharing.1 Under Social Security Act § 1902(n)(3)(B), the ban covers Part A and Part B deductibles, coinsurance, and copays for Medicare-covered services, and it applies to:

• All Medicare providers and suppliers, including pharmacies and Medicare Advantage providers
• Providers whose Medicaid payment toward the cost-sharing is reduced or nothing at all
• Care you get in another state, even when your QMB benefit is from Indiana

You cannot waive the protection by agreeing to pay.6 If you are a QMB and receive a bill for a Medicare deductible, coinsurance, or copay, do not pay it. Show the provider both your Medicare card and your Medicaid or QMB card, and if you already paid, you have the right to a refund. If the billing continues, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), which can confirm your QMB status and ask the provider to stop billing you and refund what you paid.6,7 Indiana SHIP at 1-800-452-4800 can also help.8

Part D Extra Help (Automatic for All MSP Enrollees)

Every QMB, SLMB, and QI enrollee is automatically deemed eligible for the full Part D Extra Help, also called the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS).1 Under 42 C.F.R. § 423.773(c), you are treated as meeting the full-subsidy requirements and should not complete a separate Extra Help application with the Social Security Administration.9

In 2026, full Part D Extra Help provides the benefits below.9

The $5.10 and $12.65 copays are the ceiling, and they are what an MSP-only enrollee (QMB-only, SLMB-only, or QI) pays. If you also have full Indiana Medicaid, they can be lower: $1.60 and $4.90 with income at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level, and $0 if you live in a nursing home or get home and community-based services. The premium help stops at the benchmark, so if you pick a pricier plan, you pay the difference.9

Worked Example: Single Hoosier Applying for an MSP

The figures below are hypothetical and shown only to illustrate how the income test works. They are not a real case and not a prediction of your own result.

A retired Hoosier, age 71, living in Hamilton County, receives Social Security plus a small pension and has modest savings. He owns his home and one car. Here is how the 2026 test runs.

His total monthly income falls below Indiana's 2026 QMB single limit of $2,015, and his countable savings sit under the $9,950 resource limit, so he is income- and resource-eligible for QMB, the most comprehensive program.1

Outcome: as a QMB, Indiana pays his $202.90 Part B premium each month, plus his Medicare deductibles and cost-sharing, and he is auto-deemed for full Part D Extra Help.2 Note that under the federal QMB limit many national pages publish (near $1,350 a month), he would appear not to qualify at all. Indiana's higher limit is what makes him eligible.1

How to Apply for Indiana Medicare Savings Programs

FSSA handles MSP applications through the Division of Family Resources (DFR). You can apply in any of the ways below.

Where to Get Help

Learn More

Find personalized help applying for Indiana Medicare Savings Programs 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.