Oklahoma Medicare Savings Programs 2026: QMB, SLMB & QI

Oklahoma's Medicare Savings Programs help Medicare beneficiaries with limited income cover premiums and cost-sharing they would otherwise pay out of pocket. Administered by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) under SoonerCare, Oklahoma's Medicaid program, the three programs are QMB, SLMB, and QI.

What Are Oklahoma Medicare Savings Programs?

Oklahoma's Medicare Savings Programs are a component of SoonerCare, the state's Medicaid program administered by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA). Federal law (42 USC § 1396a(a)(10)(E)) requires every state to operate QMB, SLMB, and QI. OHCA runs all three using the federal income and resource standards.2

The programs exist to fill gaps Medicare does not cover. In 2026, the Part B standard premium is $202.90 per month, the Part A inpatient hospital deductible is $1,736 per benefit period, and the Part B deductible is $283 per year. These costs fall entirely on the beneficiary unless an MSP or supplemental coverage is in place. For a SoonerCare-eligible Oklahoma resident, the Oklahoma Medicare Savings Programs absorb those costs.3

Income is counted under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI)-related ABD methodology (42 CFR Part 435), not the MAGI rules used for marketplace coverage. Two disregards apply before the income test:

• A $20 general income exclusion per household per month, taken from unearned income (Social Security benefits, pensions, VA compensation) first.1
• An earned-income disregard for applicants who still have wages, which sets aside part of that income before the test.

The published income ceilings already build in the $20 disregard.1 A resident whose gross Social Security benefit is close to the limit should apply and let OHCA run the calculation with the disregard applied.

Oklahoma's MSP income limits are set as a percentage of the annual Federal Poverty Guidelines, which the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) publishes each January (the 2026 guidelines were published January 15, 2026). Oklahoma applies the updated guidelines to its MSP income standards each spring, and OHCA's 2026 income standards take effect April 1, 2026. The monthly figures in the tables below reflect the 2026 guidelines, so a figure checked against an older or newer FPL table may differ slightly.4,1

QMB: Qualified Medicare Beneficiary

QMB is Oklahoma's most protective Medicare Savings Program. It covers both Part A and Part B premiums and pays all Medicare cost-sharing, including deductibles, coinsurance, and copays on every covered service.

Oklahoma does not set state-specific QMB income limits above the federal floor. The figures above reflect the federal ceiling as published in SSA POMS HI 00815.023, and the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period) and Part B deductible ($283 per year) QMB pays on the enrollee's behalf are the 2026 CMS amounts.2,1,3

The QMB Billing Prohibition

Federal law (42 USC § 1396a(n)(3)(B)) bars any Medicare provider, whether Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage, from billing a QMB enrollee for Medicare cost-sharing. This prohibition applies regardless of whether the provider participates in SoonerCare.

If you receive a bill for a Medicare deductible, coinsurance, or copay while enrolled in QMB:

1. Do not pay it. Notify the provider of your QMB status.
2. Show your SoonerCare QMB eligibility letter or card.
3. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to file a complaint.
4. Contact Oklahoma SHIP at 1-800-763-2828 for help disputing the bill.

The provider must withdraw the bill from collections and refund any payment already collected.

SLMB: Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary

SLMB pays the Part B premium only, which is $202.90 per month in 2026. SLMB covers that premium in full, so it stays in the enrollee's Social Security deposit instead of being deducted each month.3,1

SLMB enrollees are automatically deemed eligible for full Part D Extra Help. No separate SSA application is required. Benefits in 2026: $0 Part D premium on a benchmark plan, $0 deductible, and drug copays capped at $5.10 per generic and $12.65 per brand-name prescription.5

SLMB also carries up to three months of retroactive coverage under 42 CFR § 435.915. If you were eligible in the three months before you applied, OHCA can back-date the benefit, and SSA will issue a lump-sum reimbursement of any Part B premiums deducted during those months.

QI: Qualifying Individual

QI pays the Part B premium only, for Oklahoma residents with income between approximately 120% and 135% FPL.1

Key points specific to QI:

• Capped federal allotment. Unlike QMB and SLMB, QI is funded through a fixed annual federal allotment rather than as an open-ended entitlement. States award QI on a first-come, first-served basis within that cap, with preference given to people who were enrolled in QI the prior year. If a state's allotment is fully committed for the year, a new applicant can be placed on a waiting list, so it is worth applying early in the year.
• Mutually exclusive with full Medicaid. If you are enrolled in SoonerCare as a full Medicaid beneficiary, you cannot be on QI. Federal law (42 USC § 1396u-3(c)(1)) prohibits it. Instead, you would qualify for QMB-Plus or SLMB-Plus, combining MSP cost-sharing protection with full SoonerCare benefits.

Full Comparison: Oklahoma Medicare Savings Programs

All three programs share the same resource limit and all three trigger automatic Part D Extra Help enrollment.1

What Counts as a Resource in Oklahoma?

The SSI-related resource methodology applies. Counted resources include cash, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, non-retirement investment accounts, a second home, and a second vehicle.

Excluded resources include:

• Primary home of any value (no equity cap applies to MSP; Oklahoma's $752,000 home equity cap is for nursing-home Medicaid only).2
• One vehicle of any value.
• Household goods and personal effects.
• Burial spaces, plus a designated burial fund within the standard SSI-related exclusion limit per person.
• Life insurance with a low combined face value, within the standard SSI-related exclusion limit per person.

Part D Extra Help

Enrollment in any Oklahoma Medicare Savings Program automatically qualifies you for full Part D Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy) under 42 USC § 1395w-114. OHCA transmits monthly enrollment data to CMS, which updates your Part D record. No separate SSA application is needed.

In 2026, full Part D Extra Help includes:

• $0 premium on any benchmark Part D plan.
• $0 Part D deductible.
• $5.10 copay per generic prescription.
• $12.65 copay per brand-name prescription.
• $0 out-of-pocket copays after $2,100 in true annual out-of-pocket drug costs.5

If your income is above the MSP ceilings but below 150% FPL, you can apply directly for Extra Help using Form SSA-1020 at any Social Security office or at SSA.gov. SSA will forward the application to OHCA as an automatic MSP referral.5

How to Apply for Oklahoma Medicare Savings Programs

OHCA accepts MSP applications through mySoonerCare and by phone.2

Primary application channels:

1. mySoonerCare online portal at oklahoma.gov/ohca. Create an account or access your existing SoonerCare account to submit the application.
2. Phone: call OHCA at 1-800-987-7767 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT).
3. Through SSA: applying for Part D Extra Help on Form SSA-1020 creates an automatic MSP application referral to OHCA. The SSA application date serves as the protected filing date.

Documents to have ready:

• Medicare card or Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI)
• Social Security number and date of birth (applicant and spouse)
• Most recent SSA COLA letter showing current monthly benefit
• Pension or annuity statements (if applicable)
• Recent bank statements (all accounts)
• Proof of Oklahoma residency (utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement)

Processing time: OHCA must determine eligibility within 45 days for non-disability applications and 90 days for those involving a disability determination.

Retroactive coverage: SLMB and QI allow up to three months of retroactive coverage. QMB coverage begins the month after the eligibility determination, with no retroactive period allowed under federal law.

Annual renewal: OHCA attempts to renew coverage each year using existing electronic data sources. If it cannot confirm eligibility, it sends a renewal packet. Return it promptly. If MSP terminates, Medicare resumes deducting the Part B premium from your Social Security check the following month.

Learn More

Find personalized help applying for Oklahoma 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.