Mississippi Medicare Savings Programs pay Medicare premiums and cost-sharing for income-eligible beneficiaries. QMB, the broadest program, covers the Part B premium and all Medicare deductibles and copays.
What Are Medicare Savings Programs?
Medicare Savings Programs are Medicaid-administered benefits that pay some or all of a low-income Medicare beneficiary's Medicare premiums and cost-sharing. QMB, SLMB, and QI are mandatory eligibility groups under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, meaning every state plan must cover them.
In Mississippi, all three programs are administered by the Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM). Applications are processed at DOM regional offices or by phone.
MSPs use the SSI-related income methodology rather than MAGI rules. Two income disregards reduce what counts: a $20/month general income disregard applied first to unearned income, and a $65 + half of remaining earned income disregard for working beneficiaries. The income bands below already reflect the $20 disregard.
QMB: Qualified Medicare Beneficiary
QMB is the most comprehensive of the three programs. It covers:
- The Medicare Part A premium (most beneficiaries have premium-free Part A after 40+ work quarters)
- The Medicare Part B premium ($185.00/month in 2026 per CMS)
- The Part A inpatient hospital deductible ($1,736 in 2026)
- The Part B annual deductible ($257 in 2026)
- All Medicare coinsurance and copays on every Medicare-covered service
2026 Mississippi QMB income limits: at or below $1,350/month for a single person, or at or below $1,821/month for a couple. These figures reflect 100% of the Federal Poverty Level with the $20 general income disregard applied.
Resource limit: $9,950 for one person, $14,910 for a couple. The primary residence and one vehicle are fully excluded.
For a single Mississippi senior on Social Security, QMB can represent more than $3,000 per year in saved premiums, deductibles, and copays. Every QMB enrollee is also automatically deemed eligible for full Part D Extra Help.
SLMB: Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary
SLMB covers one benefit: the Medicare Part B premium. At the 2026 standard rate, that is worth $2,220 per year.
2026 Mississippi SLMB income limits: $1,351 to $1,616/month for a single person, $1,822 to $2,178/month for a couple.
Resource limit: Same as QMB: $9,950 single, $14,910 couple.
SLMB does not cover deductibles or copays. But for a beneficiary with limited medical claims, eliminating the Part B premium is the dominant cost saving. SLMB also triggers automatic Part D Extra Help: drug copays drop to $5.10 for generics and $12.65 for brand-name drugs, with a $0 deductible and $0 premium on a benchmark Part D plan.
QI: Qualifying Individual
QI covers the Part B premium only, the same as SLMB, at a higher income band: $1,617 to $1,816/month for a single person, $2,179 to $2,451/month for a couple.
Two structural differences from QMB and SLMB:
- First-come, first-served. QI is funded through a capped federal allotment. Mississippi enrolls applicants on a first-come, first-served basis, with a preference for prior-year QI enrollees. Unlike QMB and SLMB, there is no enrollment guarantee.
- Mutually exclusive with full Medicaid. Anyone eligible for full Mississippi Medicaid (the Aged, Blind, and Disabled category) cannot simultaneously be on QI. Those individuals qualify instead for QMB-Plus or SLMB-Plus, which layer full Medicaid on top of MSP protections.
Like SLMB, QI enrollment triggers automatic Part D Extra Help.
The QMB Billing Prohibition
Federal law (42 USC § 1396a(n)(3)(B)) prohibits any Medicare provider from billing a QMB enrollee for Medicare cost-sharing. This applies to Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage providers alike, whether or not they participate with Mississippi Medicaid.
If you are a QMB enrollee and receive a bill for a deductible, coinsurance, or copay from any Medicare provider, do not pay it. The provider cannot legally collect it.
If you receive such a bill:
- Tell the provider you are enrolled in QMB and cite federal law.
- Show your Mississippi Medicaid eligibility notice or Medicare card with the QMB indicator.
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to file a complaint.
- Contact the Mississippi SHIP at 1-800-948-3090 for free help disputing the bill.
Part D Extra Help / Low-Income Subsidy
Every QMB, SLMB, and QI enrollee in Mississippi is automatically deemed eligible for full Part D Extra Help (the Low-Income Subsidy). No separate application is required.
Under the 2026 Part D benefit structure:
- $0 Part D premium on a benchmark plan
- $0 annual deductible
- $5.10 per generic prescription
- $12.65 per brand-name or preferred multi-source drug
- $0 copays after the annual out-of-pocket cap
The deeming flows automatically from DOM to CMS each month after MSP enrollment. If you are not already in a Part D plan, CMS will auto-assign you to a zero-premium benchmark plan.
Mississippi Medicare Savings Programs: 2026 Income Limits at a Glance
| Program | Single monthly income limit | Couple monthly income limit | What it pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| QMB | Up to $1,350 | Up to $1,821 | Part A + Part B premiums + all cost-sharing |
| SLMB | $1,351-$1,616 | $1,822-$2,178 | Part B premium only |
| QI | $1,617-$1,816 | $2,179-$2,451 | Part B premium only (capped allotment) |
Income limits reflect 100% FPL (QMB), 100-120% FPL (SLMB), and 120-135% FPL (QI) with the $20 general income disregard applied. Resource limit for all three: $9,950 single / $14,910 couple.
What Counts as a Resource and What Does Not
The $9,950/$14,910 resource limit excludes several large asset categories:
Excluded (do not count):
- Primary residence, regardless of equity or value
- One vehicle, regardless of make or value
- Household goods and personal effects
- Prepaid burial arrangements and a burial fund up to $1,500 per person
Counted:
- Checking and savings account balances
- Stocks, bonds, CDs, and mutual funds
- A second vehicle or second home
- Non-exempt cash-value life insurance above the $1,500 face-value threshold
Many Mississippi seniors rule themselves out of MSP because they consider their home a resource. The home does not count. A QMB applicant in a paid-off house worth $150,000 can still qualify as long as bank and investment balances stay within the limit.
How to Apply for Mississippi Medicare Savings Programs
1. In person or by mail at a DOM regional office
The Mississippi Division of Medicaid operates regional offices throughout the state. Bring your Medicare card, Social Security benefit letter, recent bank statements, and proof of Mississippi residency. Staff can assist with the application.
2. By phone
Call the DOM helpline at 1-800-421-2408 for assistance and to locate the regional office nearest to you.
3. Through the Social Security Administration
Applying for Part D Extra Help (Form SSA-1020) at SSA automatically generates a referral to Mississippi Medicaid under federal law (42 USC § 1320b-14). The SSA application date is used as the protected filing date.
Documents to Gather Before You Apply
- Medicare card (showing your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier / MBI)
- Social Security card or proof of Social Security number
- Most recent SSA benefit award or COLA letter
- Recent bank and investment account statements
- Pension or annuity statements, if applicable
- Proof of Mississippi residency (utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement)
Determination Timeline and Effective Dates
DOM must process non-disability MSP applications within 45 days under 42 CFR § 435.912.
- QMB: coverage begins the first day of the month after DOM approves the application. Federal law prohibits retroactive QMB coverage. Apply as early as possible.
- SLMB and QI: up to three months of retroactive coverage is available under 42 CFR § 435.915 if you were eligible during those months. Apply early to protect the retroactive window.
How the Income Disregards Work
Many Mississippi seniors see their gross Social Security income above the income threshold and assume they don't qualify. The SSI-related methodology often reduces that figure.
$20 general income disregard: $20 per household per month is excluded from unearned income before counting. This is already reflected in the published income limits.
$65 + half of earned income: For applicants with wages, the first $65 is excluded, then half of the remainder. A part-time worker earning $500/month gross has $500 - $65 = $435; half of $435 = $217.50 counted from earned income. Combined with the $20 disregard on Social Security, many seniors have substantially lower countable income than their gross figures suggest.
Run the disregard math before concluding you don't qualify.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Mississippi Medicare beneficiary with monthly income at or below $1,350 (single) or $1,821 (couple) and countable resources at or below $9,950/$14,910. The primary home and one car are excluded from the resource count. QMB pays Part A and Part B premiums plus all Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copays.
No. Federal law prohibits QI enrollment for anyone who qualifies for full Medicaid. If you qualify for full Mississippi ABD Medicaid, you would instead be eligible for QMB-Plus or SLMB-Plus, which combine MSP cost-sharing protection with the full Medicaid benefit.
No. Every Mississippi QMB, SLMB, and QI enrollee is automatically deemed eligible for full Part D Extra Help. DOM transmits deeming information to CMS monthly. If you are not already in a Part D plan, CMS will assign you to a zero-premium benchmark plan.
Do not pay the bill. Federal law prohibits any Medicare provider from billing QMB enrollees for Medicare cost-sharing. Call 1-800-MEDICARE and contact the Mississippi SHIP at 1-800-948-3090 for free help.
Yes, for up to three months if you were eligible during that window. QMB has no retroactive coverage; it starts the month after DOM approves the application. Apply early for SLMB and QI to protect the retroactive window.
Learn More
- Mississippi Medicaid Eligibility and Income Limits
- How to Apply for Mississippi Medicaid
- Understanding the Personal Needs Allowance
Find personalized help applying for Mississippi 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.