Medicare Savings Programs
Most families have never heard of Medicare Savings Programs, which is exactly why they are underused: they can pay the Part B premium, the deductible, and more for beneficiaries with limited income. This page is who qualifies, the four programs, and the state application that most families never file.
state help paying Medicare costs, free to apply
The Medicare Savings Programs ledger
Medicare Savings Programs help pay Medicare costs for people with limited income and assets, and the help is real: the Part B premium alone is a recurring monthly bill many families pay without knowing a program covers it.
Not legal or benefits advice. Income and asset limits are state-specific and change. The Medicare Savings Programs page and the state Medicaid office are the authorities for the family's exact numbers.
What Medicare Savings Programs are
Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) are state-administered programs that help pay Medicare costs for people with limited income and assets. Depending on the program, they cover the Part B premium, and some cover deductibles and coinsurance. The help is real and often substantial: the Part B premium alone is a recurring monthly bill that many families pay out of pocket without knowing a program exists to cover it.
The four programs
- QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary): pays Part A and B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. The fullest help.
- SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary): pays the Part B premium only.
- QI (Qualifying Individual): pays the Part B premium only, funded separately and first-come in some states.
- QDWI (Qualified Disabled and Working Individuals): pays the Part A premium for certain working people with disabilities.
Who qualifies
Qualification is by income and assets, with limits that vary by state and change yearly. Many families assume the parent has too much money and never check; the limits are higher than most people think, and applying is the only way to know. The family should apply even if unsure, because the application itself is the eligibility test.
How to apply
- Check the Medicare page for the current income and asset ranges and how to apply in the parent's state.
- Apply through the state Medicaid office (or the Social Security office in some states), not through a private company.
- Bring the income and asset documents the state asks for; the application is paperwork, not an interview.
- Ask about retroactive coverage where the state allows it.
The Medicare explained guide is the context for how Part B fits into the whole picture, and the prescription-cost guide covers the separate Part D help.
The warning
MSPs are free to apply for through the state. Anyone who charges a fee to "enroll" the parent in a Medicare Savings Program is running the Medicare scam. The application is free, and the family never pays an enrollment company.
Related guides
Sources & verification
This page is checked against the standards in our editorial policy, preferring government sources for benefits guidance. Reviewed August 2026:
- Medicare.gov: Medicare Savings Programs (retrieved August 2026)
- US Administration for Community Living: Eldercare Locator (retrieved August 2026; for state help navigating the application)
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