The four programs and the 2026 limits
| Program | Helps pay | Monthly income limit, individual / couple | Resource limit, individual / couple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) | Part A premiums (if you pay one), Part B premiums, and Part A and B deductibles, coinsurance and copayments | $1,350 / $1,824 | $9,950 / $14,910 |
| Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) | Part B premiums only | $1,616 / $2,184 | $9,950 / $14,910 |
| Qualifying Individual (QI) | Part B premiums only | $1,816 / $2,455 | $9,950 / $14,910 |
| Qualified Disabled and Working Individual (QDWI) | Part A premiums only | $5,405 / $7,299 | $4,000 / $6,000 |
These are federal limits for 2026. Income limits are slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii, and you may qualify above them because some states do not count certain types or amounts of income or resources. SLMB and QI require both Part A and Part B. QDWI is for people with a disability who are working and lost premium-free Part A and Social Security disability benefits because they returned to work; how those benefits work is in SSI vs SSDI.
What the help is worth
The standard Part B premium for 2026 is $202.90 a month, $2,434.80 a year, per CMS. QMB, SLMB and QI all cover it, and QMB also covers Part A and B cost sharing; the deductibles it removes are listed in Medicare costs 2026. On top of that, the three come with Extra Help for drugs, which caps what you pay at $12.65 per covered drug in 2026; the drug plan rules are in Medicare Part D explained.
What counts as a resource
| Counts | Does not count |
|---|---|
| Money in checking, savings or retirement accounts | Your home |
| Stocks | One car |
| Bonds | A burial plot, and up to $1,500 set aside for burial expenses |
| Furniture and other household and personal items |
QMB billing protection
In QMB, Medicare providers may not bill you for services and items Medicare covers, including deductibles, coinsurance and copayments, though a small Medicaid copayment can apply. Show your Medicare card and your Medicaid or QMB card at every visit; with Original Medicare, a Medicare Summary Notice also shows you are in QMB.
How to apply
- Apply through your state. The state decides which program fits.
- Apply even if you think you are over the limits, as Medicare.gov advises.
- QI is renewed every year and approved first come, first served, with priority for people who had it the year before. It is only for people who do not qualify for other Medicaid coverage.
The limits move up each year. Income tests for other programs are often set as a share of the poverty guidelines in federal poverty level 2026, and the budget planner shows what the saved premiums free up each month.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Medicare Savings Program income limits for 2026?
Medicare.gov lists monthly income limits of $1,350 for an individual and $1,824 for a couple for QMB, $1,616 and $2,184 for SLMB, $1,816 and $2,455 for QI, and $5,405 and $7,299 for QDWI. Resource limits are $9,950 and $14,910 for the first three and $4,000 and $6,000 for QDWI. Limits are slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii, and some states are more generous.
How do I apply for a Medicare Savings Program?
Through your state, which runs the programs and decides which one you qualify for. Medicare.gov says to apply even if you think your income or resources are too high, because some states do not count certain income or resources.
Does a Medicare Savings Program include Extra Help?
Yes. People in QMB, SLMB or QI also get Extra Help with drug costs, and in 2026 pay no more than $12.65 for each drug their Medicare drug plan covers, per Medicare.gov.
Can a doctor bill me if I am in the QMB program?
Medicare providers are not allowed to bill people in QMB for services and items Medicare covers, including deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. A small Medicaid copayment may still apply. Show your Medicare card and your Medicaid or QMB card each time you get care.
What counts toward the resource limit?
Money in checking, savings or retirement accounts, stocks and bonds. Your home, one car, a burial plot, up to $1,500 set aside for burial expenses, furniture and other household and personal items do not count, according to Medicare.gov.
Sources
- Medicare.gov: Medicare Savings Programs (the four programs, what each pays, 2026 monthly income and resource limits for individuals and couples, Alaska and Hawaii, state rules, what counts in resource limits, QMB billing protection, Extra Help at no more than $12.65 per drug in 2026, applying every year for QI, applying through your state)
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: 2026 Medicare Parts A and B premiums and deductibles fact sheet (Part B standard premium of $202.90 a month)
General information based on the sources above, not medical advice.