Medicare in New Hampshire runs on federal rules, and SHIP-trained ServiceLink counselors make it easier to compare plans and find help paying. This guide covers Medicare in New Hampshire for 2026: what it costs, the plan choices available here, and how to get help paying.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). CMS, Medicare & You 2026 handbook — SHIP state listing and national SHIP description. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 1, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/publications/10050-medicare-and-you.pdf,Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program Group. cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 30, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/medicare/medicaid-coordination/about/qualified-medicare-beneficiary-program
In This Guide
- Key Takeaways
- Original Medicare: Parts A and B
- Medicare Advantage in New Hampshire (Part C)
- Medicare Part D: Prescription Drugs
- Medigap in New Hampshire
- Help Paying for Medicare in New Hampshire
- Medicare Enrollment Periods
- Free Medicare Help: NH ServiceLink SHIP
- Frequently Asked Questions
About these numbers: The premiums and deductibles below come from CMS for calendar year 2026, effective January 1. Medicare costs change every year, and CMS announces the next year's amounts each fall; the current-year figures are published at medicare.gov.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles To talk to a person about your own coverage, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; TTY users call 1-877-486-2048.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Contact Medicare — Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 23, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/talk-to-someone A NH ServiceLink counselor at 1-866-634-9412 will go through your costs with you for free.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). CMS, Medicare & You 2026 handbook — SHIP state listing and national SHIP description. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 1, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/publications/10050-medicare-and-you.pdf
Original Medicare: Parts A and B
Original Medicare is run directly by the federal government and comes in two parts. The mechanics and costs are identical in New Hampshire and every other state.
Part A (Hospital Insurance)
Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, limited skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly premium | $0 for most people (40+ quarters of work history) |
| Hospital deductible | $1,736 per benefit period |
| Hospital coinsurance, days 61-90 | $434 per day |
| Lifetime reserve days | $868 per day |
| SNF coinsurance, days 21-100 | $217 per day |
The hospital deductible rose $60 from 2025, to $1,736 per benefit period.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles A benefit period starts the day you're admitted and ends once you've gone 60 days in a row without inpatient hospital care or skilled care in a skilled nursing facility. Get readmitted after that, and the deductible applies again.
Part B (Medical Insurance)
Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, durable medical equipment, and mental health care. It doesn't cover routine dental, vision, or hearing.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles,Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Dental service coverage. medicare.gov. Retrieved Sep 2, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/dental-services
- Monthly premium: $202.90 (higher if your 2024 income was above $109,000 single or $218,000 married, under the income-related adjustment)Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles
- Annual deductible: $283Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles
- After the deductible: you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most servicesCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles
Part B is technically optional, but nearly everyone signs up. Delay past your enrollment window without qualifying for a Special Enrollment Period or a Medicare Savings Program and you'll owe a late penalty of 10% for every 12 months you could have had it, for as long as you keep Part B. Creditable drug coverage is the Part D exception, not the Part B one.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Avoid late enrollment penalties. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 15, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/medicare-costs/avoid-penalties
Medicare Advantage in New Hampshire (Part C)
Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to Original Medicare, sold by private insurers. They cover everything Parts A and B do, except hospice, which Original Medicare keeps covering. Most bundle in Part D drug coverage along with extras like dental, vision, and hearing.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage - Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 8, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/your-coverage-options/compare-original-medicare-medicare-advantage
New Hampshire is a small state with a modest Medicare Advantage market. The Manchester, Nashua, and Concord metro areas generally offer a wider range of plans than rural communities, particularly in the North Country and western regions where fewer plan contracts operate. Plan options, networks, and prices change every year and differ by county, so compare what's actually available at your address before you decide.
How These Plans Work
- You keep paying your Part B premium ($202.90) on top of any plan premium. CMS estimates the average Medicare Advantage premium for 2026 at about $14 a month, and many plans charge $0 extra. Some plans go further and help pay all or part of your Part B premium.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles,Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage - Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 8, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/your-coverage-options/compare-original-medicare-medicare-advantage
- Plans run on networks (HMO or PPO). Confirm your doctors and hospitals are in-network before you enroll, which matters most if you rely on specialists in Boston or other out-of-state medical centers. Emergency care, out-of-area urgent care, and temporary out-of-area dialysis are covered whether you get them inside or outside the plan's network.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage - Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 8, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/your-coverage-options/compare-original-medicare-medicare-advantage
- Plans usually require prior authorization for certain services, which Original Medicare generally does not.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage - Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 8, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/your-coverage-options/compare-original-medicare-medicare-advantage
- Every plan caps your annual in-network out-of-pocket spending (federally limited to $9,250 in 2026; many plans set it lower). Original Medicare has no such cap on its own. CMS's sentence adds the condition: no yearly limit on what you pay out of pocket unless you have supplemental coverage, like Medigap, Medicaid, employer, retiree, or union coverage. What each covers varies by policy.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage - Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 8, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/your-coverage-options/compare-original-medicare-medicare-advantage
Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov to compare plans by ZIP code. Enter your doctors and prescriptions and it shows which plans cover them and your estimated cost. If you want help reading the results, a ServiceLink SHIP counselor will go through them with you for free.
Medicare Part D: Prescription Drugs
Part D covers outpatient prescription drugs. You can get it as a standalone plan paired with Original Medicare, or built into a Medicare Advantage plan.
The Inflation Reduction Act eliminated the old coverage gap, the donut hole, so that higher-cost middle stage is gone.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). Final CY 2026 Part D Redesign Program Instructions - CMS. cms.gov. Retrieved Aug 22, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/files/document/final-cy-2026-part-d-redesign-program-instruction.pdf Part D now moves through three phases:
- Deductible: you pay full price until you meet your plan's deductible (up to $615 in 2026).Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). How much does Medicare drug coverage cost?. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 15, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/part-d/basics/costs
- Initial coverage: you pay copays or coinsurance while your plan and drug makers cover the rest.
- Catastrophic: once your out-of-pocket spending reaches $2,100, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). Final CY 2026 Part D Redesign Program Instructions - CMS. cms.gov. Retrieved Aug 22, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/files/document/final-cy-2026-part-d-redesign-program-instruction.pdf
That $2,100 cap is the number that matters most in Part D. It was $2,000 in 2025 and rises with drug-spending growth. Standalone Part D premiums are set by private carriers and vary widely; the 2026 projected average runs roughly $34.50 a month.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles Every plan also has to offer the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which lets you spread your out-of-pocket drug costs into capped monthly payments across the year instead of paying in full at the pharmacy.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). Final CY 2026 Part D Redesign Program Instructions - CMS. cms.gov. Retrieved Aug 22, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/files/document/final-cy-2026-part-d-redesign-program-instruction.pdf People who qualify for Extra Help often pay much less, sometimes nothing.
Not sure which Part D plan fits your prescriptions? Chat with Brevy's care navigator at brevy.com.
Medigap in New Hampshire
Medigap policies are sold by private insurers to fill the gaps in Original Medicare: the deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. They work with Original Medicare, and a Medigap policy can't pay a Medicare Advantage plan's copays, coinsurance, deductibles, or premiums.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage - Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 8, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/your-coverage-options/compare-original-medicare-medicare-advantage
New Hampshire offers the federally standardized plans, labeled A-D, F, G, and K-N, regulated by the New Hampshire Insurance Department. Plans C and F are closed to anyone who became Medicare-eligible on or after January 1, 2020.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare (CMS/NAIC, 2026) - Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 22, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/publications/02110-medigap-guide-health-insurance.pdf Plan G is the popular choice for people newly eligible: it covers the Part A deductible, Part A and Part B coinsurance, and skilled nursing coinsurance, leaving only the $283 Part B deductible on you.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2025). Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare (CMS/NAIC, 2025) - Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 22, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/publications/02110-choosing-a-medigap-policy.pdf,Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles
Your strongest opening is the federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period, the six months that begin when you're 65 and enrolled in Part B. During that window an insurer must sell you any plan at the standard rate regardless of your health.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2025). Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare (CMS/NAIC, 2025) - Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 22, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/publications/02110-choosing-a-medigap-policy.pdf Outside it, New Hampshire insurers may use medical underwriting, meaning they can review your health, charge more, or decline you.
New Hampshire has no annual birthday rule or other state-created window that lets you switch Medigap plans without health questions after the initial enrollment period closes. The choice you make in those first six months carries real weight. If you think you might ever want Medigap, the safest time to buy is during that initial window.
Medigap or Medicare Advantage?
While you're in a Medicare Advantage plan it's illegal for anyone to sell you a Medigap policy unless you're switching back to Original Medicare. Choose Medigap and you stay on Original Medicare with the freedom to see any provider who accepts Medicare nationwide, at a higher monthly premium. Choose Medicare Advantage and you trade some of that freedom for a network and a lower upfront cost. For a side-by-side look at the trade-off, see our guide to Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage - Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 8, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/your-coverage-options/compare-original-medicare-medicare-advantage
Help Paying for Medicare in New Hampshire
If you're on a fixed income, two programs can cut your Medicare costs sharply.
Medicare Savings Programs
New Hampshire administers its Medicare Savings Programs through the NH Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), under the Medicare Beneficiaries Savings Program. DHHS's program page names the tiers QMB and "SLMB or SLMB135" and publishes no dollar amounts and no Federal Poverty Level percentages of its own, so the figures below are the federal MSP standards Social Security publishes rather than limits New Hampshire sets. Neither DHHS nor Social Security states that SLMB135 is the federal Qualifying Individual (QI) group, so treat those as two labels rather than a confirmed match.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program Group. cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 30, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/medicare/medicaid-coordination/about/qualified-medicare-beneficiary-program
| Federal tier | Individual | Couple | What it helps pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| QMB | Up to $1,350 | Up to $1,824 | Part A and B premiums, late-enrollment premium penalties, deductibles, coinsurance |
| SLMB | Up to $1,616 | Up to $2,184 | Part B premium and late-enrollment premium penalties |
| QI | Up to $1,816 | Up to $2,455 | Part B premium |
QMB is the most generous, covering your Part B premium plus your deductibles and coinsurance. Federal law bars providers from billing a QMB enrollee for that Medicare cost-sharing.U.S. Social Security Administration. (2026). SSA - POMS: HI 00815.023 - Medicare Savings Programs Income and Resource Limits - 02/26/2026. secure.ssa.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0600815023 In New Hampshire, DHHS describes QMB, SLMB, and SLMB135 alike as providing limited assistance to help pay premium penalties for late enrollment, which matters more than it sounds: the Part B late penalty otherwise rides your premium for as long as you keep Part B.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program Group. cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 30, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/medicare/medicaid-coordination/about/qualified-medicare-beneficiary-program For all three federal tiers the 2026 resource standard is $9,950 for one person and $14,910 for a couple, and it is not a test against everything you own. DHHS says it does not count certain resources such as the home you are living in, vehicles, or burial plots for yourself, and on the income side it counts what is available to you and a spouse living with you, subtracts certain expenses, and compares the resulting net figure to the limit for your living arrangement and program.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program Group. cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 30, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/medicare/medicaid-coordination/about/qualified-medicare-beneficiary-program These are not absolute cutoffs either: states can effectively raise them by disregarding amounts or certain types of income and resources, and Social Security tells its staff to encourage people to apply even when income or resources look somewhat higher than the state limits. The QI tier also has to be applied for again every year.U.S. Social Security Administration. (2026). SSA - POMS: HI 00815.023 - Medicare Savings Programs Income and Resource Limits - 02/26/2026. secure.ssa.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0600815023 Apply through NH DHHS, and enrolling in QMB, SLMB, or QI automatically qualifies you for Extra Help.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program Group. cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 30, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/medicare/medicaid-coordination/about/qualified-medicare-beneficiary-program,U.S. Social Security Administration. (2026). SSA - POMS: HI 00815.023 - Medicare Savings Programs Income and Resource Limits - 02/26/2026. secure.ssa.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0600815023 QDWI, the fourth Medicare Savings Program, is the exception: it pays the Part A premium for certain working people with disabilities who lost premium-free Part A, and it does not confer Extra Help, so a QDWI enrollee who wants Extra Help has to apply through Social Security.U.S. Social Security Administration. (2026). SSA - POMS: HI 00815.023 - Medicare Savings Programs Income and Resource Limits - 02/26/2026. secure.ssa.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0600815023,U.S. Social Security Administration. (n.d.). SSA POMS HI 03030.025 - Resource Limits for Subsidy Eligibility. secure.ssa.gov. Retrieved Jun 22, 2026, from https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0603030025
Extra Help for Part D
Extra Help, also called the Low-Income Subsidy, pays Part D premiums, deductibles, and copays for people with limited income and resources.U.S. Social Security Administration. (n.d.). SSA POMS HI 03030.025 - Resource Limits for Subsidy Eligibility. secure.ssa.gov. Retrieved Jun 22, 2026, from https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0603030025 Since 2024 the partial-subsidy tier is gone, so everyone who qualifies now gets the full subsidy.
- Income limit (2026): up to about $1,995 a month for an individual, $2,705 for a couple, in the 48 contiguous states and DC (Alaska and Hawaii limits run higher)U.S. Social Security Administration. (n.d.). SSA POMS HI 03030.025 - Resource Limits for Subsidy Eligibility. secure.ssa.gov. Retrieved Jun 22, 2026, from https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0603030025
- Resource limits: $16,590 for an individual, $33,100 for a married couple; those limits rise to $18,090 and $36,100 if you tell Social Security you expect to use some of your resources for burial expensesU.S. Social Security Administration. (n.d.). SSA POMS HI 03030.025 - Resource Limits for Subsidy Eligibility. secure.ssa.gov. Retrieved Jun 22, 2026, from https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0603030025
- If you qualify for QMB, SLMB, or QI, you're enrolled in Extra Help automaticallyU.S. Social Security Administration. (2026). SSA - POMS: HI 00815.023 - Medicare Savings Programs Income and Resource Limits - 02/26/2026. secure.ssa.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0600815023
Apply through Social Security at ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213.U.S. Social Security Administration. (n.d.). SSA POMS HI 03030.025 - Resource Limits for Subsidy Eligibility. secure.ssa.gov. Retrieved Jun 22, 2026, from https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0603030025
Medicare Enrollment Periods
Miss a deadline and you can face coverage gaps or permanent penalties. These dates are federal and the same in New Hampshire as everywhere else.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Open Enrollment. medicare.gov. Retrieved Sep 2, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/open-enrollment
| Period | Dates | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Enrollment | 7 months around your 65th birthday | Sign up for Parts A, B, and D; pick MA or Medigap |
| Annual Open Enrollment | Oct 15 - Dec 7 | Switch MA plans, move between MA and Original Medicare, change Part D |
| MA Open Enrollment | Jan 1 - Mar 31 | Switch MA plans or drop MA for Original Medicare (if already in MA) |
| General Enrollment | Jan 1 - Mar 31 | Sign up for Part B if you missed your initial window |
| Medigap Open Enrollment | 6 months from age 65 + Part B | Buy any Medigap plan at the standard rate, no health screening |
The dates in the table above are federal, so they run the same in New Hampshire as everywhere else.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Open Enrollment. medicare.gov. Retrieved Sep 2, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/open-enrollment Changes you make during Annual Open Enrollment take effect the following January 1. If you're already getting Social Security before 65, you're enrolled in Parts A and B automatically; if not, you sign up yourself through Social Security. If you're still working past 65 with group health coverage based on that current employment, you can delay Part B without penalty and use an eight-month Special Enrollment Period to sign up, counted from the month that job or coverage ends, whichever comes first. COBRA and retiree coverage do not count as coverage based on current employment, and if you're self-employed or your plan isn't available to everyone at the company, ask your insurer whether it counts as employer group health plan coverage before you delay; if it doesn't, sign up at 65. This Special Enrollment Period does not apply if you're eligible for Medicare based on End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). When does Medicare coverage start?. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 9, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/sign-up/when-does-medicare-coverage-start
Free Medicare Help: NH ServiceLink SHIP
You don't have to figure this out alone, and you don't have to pay a broker. New Hampshire's Medicare counseling program runs through ServiceLink ADRC, the Aging and Disability Resource Center network under NH DHHS, which serves as the state's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Its Medicare specialists are SHIP-trained and certified. CMS describes SHIP counseling nationally as free, personalized, and unbiased, and not connected to any insurance company or health plan.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). CMS, Medicare & You 2026 handbook — SHIP state listing and national SHIP description. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 1, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/publications/10050-medicare-and-you.pdf
A ServiceLink SHIP counselor can help you:
- Understand your Medicare options and what each part covers
- Compare Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medigap plans side by side
- Apply for Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help
- Sort out claims, denials, and appeals
Call 1-866-634-9412 to reach a ServiceLink counselor near you.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). CMS, Medicare & You 2026 handbook — SHIP state listing and national SHIP description. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 1, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/publications/10050-medicare-and-you.pdf
Who to Call in New Hampshire
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Medicare cost in New Hampshire in 2026?
Most people pay $0 for Part A. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month with a $283 annual deductible.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles Standalone Part D premiums vary by plan (the 2026 projected average runs roughly $34.50), and many Medicare Advantage plans charge no extra premium. Your total depends on the plan you pick and the care you use.
Does New Hampshire have a Medigap birthday rule?
No. New Hampshire has no annual birthday rule or other state-created window to switch Medigap plans without health questions.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2025). Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare (CMS/NAIC, 2025) - Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 22, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/publications/02110-choosing-a-medigap-policy.pdf Your one federal window to buy without health questions is the six months that begin when you're 65 and enrolled in Part B. After that, insurers can use medical underwriting, so the safest time to buy Medigap is during that initial window.
What is SLMB135 in New Hampshire?
SLMB135 is one of the tiers NH DHHS names on its Medicare Beneficiaries Savings Program page, which lists them as QMB and "SLMB or SLMB135". DHHS says SLMB and SLMB135 provide limited assistance to help pay the Part B premium and premium penalties for late enrollment, that an applicant must be entitled to Medicare Part B, and that an SLMB135 recipient may not be otherwise eligible for Medicaid. DHHS publishes no dollar amount and no Federal Poverty Level percentage for the tier, and neither DHHS nor Social Security calls SLMB135 the federal Qualifying Individual (QI) program, so do not assume the two are the same group.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program Group. cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 30, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/medicare/medicaid-coordination/about/qualified-medicare-beneficiary-program A ServiceLink counselor (1-866-634-9412) can tell you which tier your situation fits.
How do I get help paying for Medicare in New Hampshire?
Apply for a Medicare Savings Program online through NH EASY at nheasy.nh.gov, which DHHS links from its program page, or through the ServiceLink Aging and Disability Resource Center at 1-866-634-9412; apply for Extra Help with Part D through Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. QMB provides limited assistance to help pay your Part A and Part B premiums, late-enrollment premium penalties, deductibles, and coinsurance, and DHHS measures you on net income after it subtracts certain expenses, not on your gross income.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program Group. cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 30, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/medicare/medicaid-coordination/about/qualified-medicare-beneficiary-program A ServiceLink SHIP counselor (1-866-634-9412) can walk you through both applications for free.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). CMS, Medicare & You 2026 handbook — SHIP state listing and national SHIP description. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 1, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/publications/10050-medicare-and-you.pdf
Who runs Medicare counseling in New Hampshire?
NH DHHS runs Medicare counseling through the ServiceLink ADRC network, the state's SHIP program. Its Medicare specialists are SHIP-trained and certified. CMS describes SHIP counseling nationally as free, personalized, and unbiased.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). CMS, Medicare & You 2026 handbook — SHIP state listing and national SHIP description. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 1, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/publications/10050-medicare-and-you.pdf Reach them at 1-866-634-9412.
Learn More
Find personalized help with Medicare in New Hampshire 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.