If Medicare premiums are straining a fixed income, you may qualify for help. Medicare Savings Programs are state-run programs that give people with limited income and savings help paying Medicare premiums, and sometimes deductibles and copays. Under the 2026 federal limits on Medicare.gov, an individual with monthly income up to $1,816 and resources up to $9,950 may qualify, and many states allow more than that.
What costs can Medicare Savings Programs cover in 2026?
Medicare comes with a few kinds of costs, and these programs can take on some or all of them. Here's what each term means:
- A premium is the monthly amount you pay to keep your coverage.
- A deductible is what you pay yourself before Medicare starts paying its share.
- Coinsurance is a percentage of the bill you owe after that.
- A copayment is a set dollar amount you pay for a visit or service.
Part A is your hospital coverage. Part B covers doctor visits and other outpatient care. These are the 2026 amounts Medicare.gov lists for each:
2026 Medicare cost | Amount |
|---|---|
Part B standard premium | $202.90 a month (can be higher depending on income) |
Part B deductible | $283 |
Part A premium | $0 for most people |
Part A deductible | $1,736 for each inpatient hospital benefit period |
For most people, the Part B premium is the cost they feel every month. How much help you get depends on which of the four programs you qualify for.
Who qualifies for help paying Medicare premiums in 2026?
Each of the four Medicare Savings Programs has its own monthly income limit and its own resource limit. Resources are savings and other things you own that have value. Medicare.gov's Medicare Savings Programs page explains what counts.
Program | What it pays | Monthly income limit: individual | Monthly income limit: married couple | Resource limit: individual | Resource limit: married couple |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) | Part A premiums (if you don't have premium-free Part A), plus Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments | $1,350 | $1,824 | $9,950 | $14,910 |
SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary) | Part B premiums only | $1,616 | $2,184 | $9,950 | $14,910 |
QI (Qualifying Individual) | Part B premiums | $1,816 | $2,455 | $9,950 | $14,910 |
QDWI (Qualified Disabled and Working Individual) | Part A premiums only | $5,405 | $7,299 | $4,000 | $6,000 |
These are the 2026 federal limits from Medicare.gov. Income limits are slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii.
A few details matter here. To get SLMB or QI, you need both Part A and Part B. QDWI pays only Part A premiums and serves a narrower group of people. Medicare.gov's Medicare Savings Programs page explains who it's for.
What if my income is higher than the federal limit?
Don't rule yourself out based on the table alone. States run these programs, and some use higher limits than the federal ones. You may still qualify in your state even if your income or resources are above the federal numbers.
Rules vary by state, and that's the hardest part of this for most families. Limits also change every year, so the numbers that mattered last year may not be the ones that matter now.
Here's an example. Say your mother has $1,700 a month in income and about $6,000 in savings. She's over the SLMB limit of $1,616, so she might assume she's out. But she's under the QI limit of $1,816 and the $9,950 resource limit, per the 2026 federal limits on Medicare.gov. She could qualify for QI, which covers her Part B premium, $202.90 a month in 2026. Her state's own limits could make the picture even better.
If you're married, use the couple columns. The limits are based on the two of you together.
What other rules and benefits come with these programs?
QMB protects you from certain bills. If you're in QMB, Medicare providers aren't allowed to bill you for services and items Medicare covers. That includes deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments, as Medicare.gov explains. If a bill like that shows up, call the provider's billing office and tell them you're in QMB.
QI has to be renewed every year. You must apply for QI each year. States approve QI applications first come, first served, and people who got QI the year before get priority. If you're applying for the first time, it helps to apply early in the year.
Extra Help often comes along automatically. Extra Help is a Medicare program that helps pay for prescription drugs. You get it automatically if your state pays your Part B premium through a Medicare Savings Program. Medicare.gov's page on help with drug costs explains how it works.
What this means for you
You can check where you stand before you fill out any forms.
- Compare your numbers to the table. Look at your monthly income and your savings. Use the couple columns if you're married.
- Check your state's limits, even if you're over the federal ones. These programs are run by each state, so you apply through your state Medicaid agency, which you can find in Medicaid.gov's directory of state Medicaid agency contacts.
- Ask for help if the process stalls. Calls to state agencies can take time, and paperwork can go back and forth.
That third step is where a lot of people get stuck. It's also where a healthcare advocate does most of their work. Turnout's healthcare advocacy can help you review bills, plan for costs, and navigate coverage clearly. If you'd like to see what that looks like day to day, here's how a Turnout advocate takes the calls and follow-up off your plate.
For the family member vetting us: Turnout has helped 10,000+ people, supports all 50 states, and shares what customers say about working with our advocates on our page about how our advocates help lower healthcare costs.
Some people who look into these programs also want to know whether they'd qualify for full Medicaid. If a health condition is part of your picture, our guide on whether diabetes counts as a disability for Medicaid is a good place to start.
Turnout is not a law firm or government entity, and its professionals do not provide legal, medical, or clinical representation.
FAQ
I'm under 65 and get Medicare because of a disability. Can I still qualify?
Yes, you can. These programs are for people with Medicare, whatever the reason you have it, as long as you meet your state's limits. If you're still sorting out which disability benefit you get, our guide to how SSD and SSDI differ can help.
I was told I didn't qualify a few years ago. Is it worth checking again?
It often is. Limits change every year, and your state may use higher limits than the federal ones. Compare your income today to your state's current limits before you decide.
Will a settlement or lump sum affect whether I qualify?
It can affect it. Money you receive may count toward the resource limit, which is $9,950 for an individual under the 2026 federal rules on Medicare.gov. Our article on whether you'll lose Medicaid after a settlement explains how people plan for this.
It's your turn
You don't have to work out your state's rules on your own. Run Turnout's free benefits scan to see which programs you may qualify for in your state, including Medicare Savings Programs. If it turns up help you haven't used yet, we'll talk through what comes next.