Medicare Savings Programs help people with limited income pay their Medicare costs, starting with the Part B premium. Because these programs are run by the states, the income and asset limits can differ from one state to the next, which means the single federal number you saw somewhere else may not be the number that applies to you. This guide gives you the 2026 federal baseline, explains why you might still qualify where you live, and sends you to your state's full guide.

In This Guide

2026 QMB, SLMB, and QI Income Limits: The Federal Baseline

Medicare Savings Programs are defined by your income compared to the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), and each has a 2026 monthly income limit and the same asset limit. These are the federal baseline figures; your state may allow more, as explained below. If you want to know how the programs work before you compare limits, start with our guide to Medicare Savings Programs.

Program Income limit (2026, all states except Alaska and Hawaii) What it pays
QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) Up to 100% FPL, about $1,350/month for one person, $1,824 for a couple Part A and Part B premiums plus all Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copays
SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary) 100 to 120% FPL, about $1,616/month for one person, $2,184 for a couple The Part B premium
QI (Qualifying Individual) 120 to 135% FPL, about $1,816/month for one person, $2,455 for a couple The Part B premium (first-come, capped yearly allocation)

The asset limit for all three is the same in 2026: $9,950 for one person and $14,910 for a married couple. A fourth program, the Qualified Disabled and Working Individual (QDWI), pays the Part A premium for certain working people with disabilities who lost their premium-free Part A.

What Each Program Pays

The three main programs are a ladder: the lower your income, the more the program covers.

  • QMB is the most generous. It pays your Part A and Part B premiums and covers all your Medicare cost-sharing, the deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. Just as important, federal law forbids providers from billing a QMB enrollee for that Medicare cost-sharing, so you should never get a surprise bill for it.
  • SLMB and QI both pay the Part B premium and nothing beyond it. The difference is income: SLMB covers 100 to 120 percent of the FPL, QI covers 120 to 135 percent.
  • QI has limits of its own: each state gets a capped yearly federal allocation, handed out first-come, first-served, with preference for people who had QI in the last month of the previous year. QI is also only for people who don't qualify for any other Medicaid coverage. You must apply for QI every year; qualifying once does not carry you into the next year.

There is one more benefit worth knowing, whichever program you land in: enrolling in QMB, SLMB, or QI automatically signs you up for Extra Help, the program that lowers your Part D prescription drug costs. One application, two forms of help.

Why You Might Still Qualify Where You Live

Here is the mistake that costs families money: they find the federal QMB income number, see that their income is a little higher, and decide not to apply. Because Medicare Savings Programs are run by the states, that federal number is a floor, not the last word.

States can effectively raise both the income and the resource limits by disregarding certain amounts or types of income and resources, and some have used this to eliminate the resources test in effect, so income or savings that look too high against the federal figures can still fall within the limits where you live. Alaska and Hawaii also have their own, higher federal income limits: in 2026, QMB tops out at $1,683 a month for one person in Alaska and $1,550 in Hawaii. The practical rule: if you are anywhere near the federal limits, apply anyway, and confirm the current limits for your state rather than ruling yourself out on a national number.

That is exactly what your state's guide below is for. Open your state to see how its Medicare Savings Program rules work and how to apply.

Find Your State's Medicare Savings Program Guide

The programs are federal, but your state runs them and can apply more generous rules than the federal baseline. Open your state for its specific rules:

AlabamaView guide AlaskaView guide ArizonaView guide ArkansasView guide CaliforniaView guide ColoradoView guide ConnecticutView guide DelawareView guide District of ColumbiaView guide FloridaView guide GeorgiaView guide HawaiiView guide IdahoView guide IllinoisView guide IndianaView guide IowaView guide KansasView guide KentuckyView guide LouisianaView guide MaineView guide MarylandView guide MassachusettsView guide MichiganView guide MinnesotaView guide MississippiView guide MissouriView guide MontanaView guide NebraskaView guide NevadaView guide New HampshireView guide New JerseyView guide New MexicoView guide New YorkView guide North CarolinaView guide North DakotaView guide OhioView guide OklahomaView guide OregonView guide PennsylvaniaView guide Rhode IslandView guide South CarolinaView guide South DakotaView guide TennesseeView guide TexasView guide UtahView guide VermontView guide VirginiaView guide WashingtonView guide West VirginiaView guide WisconsinView guide WyomingView guide
51 states

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Medicare Savings Programs?

Medicare Savings Programs are state-run, Medicaid-administered programs that help people with limited income and resources pay their Medicare costs. The three main ones, QMB, SLMB, and QI, are set by your income compared to the Federal Poverty Level, and all three pay at least your Part B premium.

Do the income limits really vary by state?

Yes. States run the programs and can effectively raise the income and resource limits by disregarding certain income and resources, and Alaska and Hawaii have their own, higher federal income limits. So the federal number is a baseline, and you should confirm your state's current limit rather than assume you are over it. Open your state's guide above.

What are the QMB, SLMB, and QI income limits for 2026?

As a federal baseline in 2026 (every state except Alaska and Hawaii), QMB is about $1,350/month for one person ($1,824 for a couple), SLMB about $1,616 ($2,184), and QI about $1,816 ($2,455); the asset limit for all three is $9,950 for one person and $14,910 for a couple. Your state may allow more.

I think I'm over the federal limit. Should I still apply?

Yes. Because states can effectively raise the income and resource limits through disregards, someone a little over the federal numbers may still qualify in their state. Applying is the only way to find out, and being denied costs you nothing.

Does a Medicare Savings Program help with drug costs too?

Yes. Enrolling in QMB, SLMB, or QI automatically qualifies you for Extra Help, which lowers your Part D prescription drug costs.

Learn More

MedicareMedicare Savings Programs: How They Help Pay Your Medicare CostsMedicare Savings Programs help low-income enrollees pay Part B premiums and, with QMB, Medicare deductibles and coinsurance. See the four MSPs and 2026 limits. MedicareExtra Help: Lowering Your Part D Drug CostsMedicare Extra Help can cut Part D drug costs to a few dollars a prescription. See 2026 income and resource limits, what it pays, and how to apply. MedicareDual Eligibility: Having Both Medicare and MedicaidWhat dual eligible means: how Medicare and Medicaid coordinate, full vs. partial duals, QMB cost protection, automatic Extra Help, and integrated D-SNP plans. MedicareNo Dental Plan on Medicare? Where Seniors Find Affordable Dental CareOriginal Medicare won't pay for routine dental care, but health centers, dental schools, Medicaid, VA and PACE may. Who qualifies for each and where to start.
Your next step Not sure whether you qualify for a Medicare Savings Program in your state? Brevy's care navigator can help you check the limits where you live and find how to apply.

Find personalized help applying for a Medicare Savings Program 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.

Still have questions?

Brevy answers from this guide and every other guide here, and can check what you qualify for.

BC

Brevy Care Team

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