Montana Medicare Savings Programs can eliminate or sharply reduce Medicare premiums and cost-sharing for income-eligible seniors and people with disabilities. The broadest tier, QMB, covers the Part B premium and all Medicare cost-sharing through Montana's Healthcare Programs.
What Are Medicare Savings Programs?
Medicare Savings Programs are Medicaid-administered benefits that pay a low-income Medicare beneficiary's premiums and cost-sharing. Under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, QMB, SLMB, and QI are mandatory eligibility groups every state must cover.
In Montana, the programs are administered by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), which runs the state's Montana Healthcare Programs. DPHHS determines financial eligibility and manages enrollment for all three MSP tiers.
Because MSPs use the SSI-related income methodology, two disregards reduce countable income before the test runs: 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 limits below already reflect the $20 disregard.
QMB: Qualified Medicare Beneficiary
QMB is the most comprehensive MSP tier. It covers:
- The Medicare Part A premium (most beneficiaries have premium-free Part A after 40 or more work quarters)
- The Medicare Part B standard premium ($185/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 across every Medicare-covered service
2026 Montana QMB income limits: at or below $1,350/month for a single person, $1,823/month for a couple. These 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 home and one vehicle are fully excluded from the resource count.
For a single Montana senior on Social Security, QMB can represent more than $3,000 in annual savings across premiums, deductibles, and copays. Every QMB enrollee is automatically deemed eligible for full Part D Extra Help.
| Household size | Monthly income limit | Resource limit |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $1,350 | $9,950 |
| Couple | $1,823 | $14,910 |
SLMB: Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary
SLMB pays one benefit: the Medicare Part B premium. At the 2026 standard rate of $185/month, that is $2,220 per year returned to the beneficiary.
2026 Montana SLMB income limits: $1,351 to $1,616/month for a single person, $1,824 to $2,188/month for a couple.
Resource limit: same as QMB: $9,950 single, $14,910 couple.
SLMB does not pay deductibles or copays. For beneficiaries with limited medical utilization, eliminating the Part B premium is the dominant savings.
SLMB enrollment also triggers automatic Part D Extra Help, reducing generic copays to $5.10 and brand-name copays to $12.65, with a $0 deductible and $0 premium on a benchmark Part D plan.
| Household size | Monthly income range | Resource limit |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $1,351-$1,616 | $9,950 |
| Couple | $1,824-$2,188 | $14,910 |
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 single, $2,189 to $2,459/month couple (2026 Montana figures).
Two structural differences from QMB and SLMB:
- First-come, first-served. QI is funded through a capped federal allotment. Montana allocates enrollment on a first-come, first-served basis, with preference for prior-year enrollees. Unlike QMB and SLMB, which are entitlements, QI enrollment is not guaranteed once the allotment is exhausted.
- Mutually exclusive with full Medicaid. Anyone eligible for full-benefit Medicaid cannot be on QI. They would instead receive QMB-Plus or SLMB-Plus, which layer full Medicaid benefits on top of MSP cost-sharing protection.
QI enrollment also triggers automatic Part D Extra Help.
| Household size | Monthly income range | Resource limit |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $1,617-$1,816 | $9,950 |
| Couple | $2,189-$2,459 | $14,910 |
Full Program Comparison
| Program | Single income limit | Couple income limit | What it pays | Resource limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QMB | Up to $1,350/mo | Up to $1,823/mo | Part A + Part B premiums + all cost-sharing | $9,950 / $14,910 |
| SLMB | $1,351-$1,616/mo | $1,824-$2,188/mo | Part B premium only | $9,950 / $14,910 |
| QI | $1,617-$1,816/mo | $2,189-$2,459/mo | Part B premium only (capped allotment) | $9,950 / $14,910 |
Income limits reflect 100% FPL (QMB), 100-120% FPL (SLMB), and 120-135% FPL (QI) with the $20 general income disregard applied.
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, whether or not they contract with Montana Healthcare Programs.
If you receive a bill for a deductible, copay, or coinsurance as a QMB enrollee:
- Tell the provider you are enrolled in QMB and cite the federal prohibition.
- Show your DPHHS eligibility notice or Medicare card with QMB indicator.
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to file a complaint.
- Contact Montana's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free help disputing the bill.
Providers who have billed QMB enrollees must recall bills from collections and refund any amounts already collected.
Part D Extra Help / Low-Income Subsidy
Every Montana QMB, SLMB, and QI enrollee is automatically deemed eligible for full Part D Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy, or LIS). No separate application is required.
Under the 2026 Part D benefit structure:
- $0 premium on a benchmark Part D plan
- $0 annual deductible
- $5.10 per generic prescription
- $12.65 per brand-name or preferred multi-source drug
- $0 in copays after the $2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap
For a beneficiary filling six prescriptions per month, Extra Help can reduce drug costs by $1,500 to $2,500 per year. The deeming flows from DPHHS to CMS monthly. If you are not already in a Part D plan, CMS will auto-assign you to a zero-premium benchmark plan.
Resource Counting: What's Excluded
Not counted:
- Primary residence, regardless of value
- One vehicle, regardless of 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, mutual funds, CDs
- A second vehicle or vacation property
- Non-exempt cash-value life insurance above $1,500
Many Montana applicants assume their home equity disqualifies them. The primary residence is fully excluded from the MSP resource count, regardless of its value.
How to Apply for Montana Medicare Savings Programs
DPHHS offers several application channels:
Online via apply.mt.gov Apply at apply.mt.gov. Complete the online benefits application and upload supporting documents. This is the fastest channel for most applicants.
By phone through the Montana Public Assistance Helpline Call 1-888-706-1535. Staff can assist with eligibility questions and application submission.
At a local Office of Public Assistance Paper applications are available at any DPHHS Office of Public Assistance statewide. Bring your Medicare card, Social Security award letter, recent bank statements, and proof of Montana residency.
Through Social Security Applying for Part D Extra Help at SSA using Form SSA-1020 generates a mandatory referral to Montana Medicaid under 42 USC 1320b-14. Your SSA filing date becomes the protected MSP filing date.
Documents to Gather Before Applying
- Medicare card (showing your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier)
- Social Security card or proof of SSN
- Most recent SSA benefit award or COLA letter
- Recent bank and investment account statements
- Pension or annuity income documentation, if applicable
- Proof of Montana residency
Processing Timelines and Effective Dates
DPHHS must process non-disability MSP applications within 45 days under 42 CFR 435.912.
- QMB: coverage begins the first day of the month after DPHHS approves the application. Federal law prohibits retroactive QMB coverage; apply early.
- SLMB and QI: up to three months of retroactive coverage is available if you were eligible during those months. File as early as possible to protect your filing date.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Montana Medicare beneficiary with monthly income at or below $1,350 (single) or $1,823 (couple) and countable resources at or below $9,950/$14,910. The primary home and one vehicle are excluded. QMB pays Part A and Part B premiums plus all Medicare deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.
No. Every Montana QMB, SLMB, and QI enrollee is automatically deemed eligible for full Part D Extra Help. DPHHS transmits deeming information to CMS monthly. CMS will auto-assign you to a zero-premium benchmark Part D plan if you are not yet enrolled.
Yes, for up to three months if you were eligible during that period. QMB has no retroactive coverage. File as early as possible to maximize the retroactive window.
Do not pay the bill. Federal law prohibits Medicare providers from billing QMB enrollees for cost-sharing. Contact 1-800-MEDICARE and Montana SHIP for free help resolving the charge.
No. If you qualify for full Medicaid, you would be enrolled in QMB-Plus or SLMB-Plus rather than QI.
The $20/month general disregard is applied to unearned income before the income test runs. For applicants with wages, an additional $65 plus half of remaining earned income is excluded. Someone whose Social Security check appears just over the income limit may still qualify after the disregards are applied.
Learn More
- Montana Medicaid Eligibility and Income Limits
- How to Apply for Montana Medicaid
- Understanding the Personal Needs Allowance
Find personalized help applying for Montana 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.