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.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. Indiana does not use the standard federal Medicare Savings Program income tiers. It uses higher, state-specific limits published by the Indiana Department of Insurance through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Indiana updates these limits each year as the Federal Poverty Level changes.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 (42 U.S.C. § 1396a(e)(8)), so apply as soon as you think you may qualify.

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

Up to three months of retroactive coverage is available under 42 C.F.R. § 435.915 if you met all eligibility criteria during those months. File as early as possible to protect the retroactive window.

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.1

Important: QI cannot be combined with full Medicaid by statute (42 U.S.C. § 1396u-3(c)(1)). An Indiana PathWays for Aging member or any other full-Medicaid enrollee cannot receive QI, and would instead qualify as QMB-Plus or SLMB-Plus.3 QI also allows up to three months of retroactive coverage under 42 C.F.R. § 435.915.

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 Your primary residence, one vehicle, household goods, and prepaid burial arrangements are excluded from countable resources.3

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 sets its own 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. The only way to know for certain whether you qualify is to file an application with Indiana Medicaid, which runs the exact income and resource test on your situation.

The QMB Billing Prohibition

Federal law (42 U.S.C. § 1396a(n)(3)(B)) prohibits any Medicare provider from billing a QMB-enrolled beneficiary for Medicare cost-sharing, under any circumstances.1 This applies to:

• Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage providers
• Providers who do not participate with Indiana Medicaid
• Hospitals, physicians, ambulance services, durable medical equipment suppliers, and skilled nursing facilities

If you are a QMB and receive a bill for a Medicare deductible, coinsurance, or copay, do not pay it. Tell the provider you are a QMB and that federal law prohibits the charge. If the provider refuses to drop the bill, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or contact Indiana SHIP at 1-800-452-4800. A 2016 CMS final rule (81 Fed. Reg. 80170) extended these protections explicitly to Medicare Advantage providers.

Part D Extra Help (Automatic for All MSP Enrollees)

Under the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (42 U.S.C. § 1395w-114), every QMB, SLMB, and QI enrollee is automatically deemed eligible for the full Part D Extra Help, also called the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS). No separate application to the Social Security Administration is required.1

In 2026, full Part D Extra Help provides the benefits below.4

Auto-deeming flows from FSSA to CMS monthly. If you are not already in a Part D plan, CMS will auto-assign a benchmark plan, and you can switch to any other Part D plan without losing Extra Help.

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.