What types of Medicare Savings Programs are available?

Individual states provide the following Medicare Savings Programs:

• Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program.
• Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary Program.
• Qualifying Individual Program.
• Qualified Disabled Working Individual Program.

You are not permitted to enroll in more than one Medicare Savings Program. If you are unsure which program is appropriate for you, your state will enroll you in the most comprehensive program for which you qualify when you apply. If you believe you need assistance with Medicare-related expenses, Medicare urges you to apply for these programs, even if you do not believe you would be eligible.

Who qualifies for Medicare Savings Programs?

Each Medicare Savings Program has its own set of eligibility requirements, and many states have their own ways of evaluating eligibility. According to Benefits.gov, you may be eligible for a Medicare Savings Program if you are a Medicare beneficiary and meet the following requirements:

• Live in a U.S. state or Washington, D.C.
• Have reached the age of 65 or older.
• Receive Social Security Disability benefits.
• Meet specific income and resource criteria.
• Are younger than 65 with certain disabilities or permanent kidney failure.

What benefits does each Medicare Savings Program offer?

Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program

The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program, also known as QMB, can assist you in paying your Medicare Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments for Medicare-approved services. Acceptance into this program also entitles you to the Medicare Extra Help program, which will assist you in paying for your prescription prescriptions and will cap your out-of-pocket expenses for each covered drug at $4 in 2022.

Another significant advantage of the QMB program is that Medicare providers will be prohibited from billing you for any Medicare-approved services or materials. If you also have Medicaid, you may be charged a modest Medicaid copay.

To be eligible for QMB, you must meet certain income and resource requirements, which vary by state — for example, Alaska and Hawaii have slightly higher income limitations. According to Medicare.gov, the following are the federal income and resource restrictions for 2022:

• Individuals cannot make more than $1,153 per month.
• Married couples cannot make more than $1,546 per month.
• Individuals' financial resources should not exceed $8,400.
• The combined assets of married couples should not exceed $12,600.

Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary Program

The Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary Program, or SLMB, assists with only Part B premiums; however, you must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B to qualify. You must also meet the program's income and resource standards, which vary by state and are significantly higher in Alaska and Hawaii.

According to Medicare.gov, the following are the federal income and resource restrictions for 2022:

• Individuals must not make more than $1,379 per month.
• Married couples cannot make more than $1,851 per month.
• Individuals' resources are limited at $8,400.
• The combined assets of married couples cannot exceed $12,600.

If you are approved into SLMB, you will be registered in Medicare Extra Help, which will assist you in paying for prescription drugs. In 2022, your out-of-pocket expense for each Medicare-covered prescription will be no more than $9.85.

Qualifying Individual Program

The Qualifying Individual Program, or QI, is similar to SLMB in that it solely covers your Part B premiums, and you must be enrolled in both Medicare Parts A and B to qualify. Once registered, you'll also receive Extra Help for prescription medications, and your out-of-pocket payment for each Medicare-approved Medication in 2022 will be no more than $9.85.

The QI program is not open to Medicaid recipients and has different income limits than SLMB. With the awareness that income and resource requirements may vary by state, and that Alaska and Hawaii have significantly higher restrictions, the following are the federal income and resource limits for 2022, as reported by Medicare.gov:

• Individuals must not make more than $1,549 per month.
• Married couples cannot make more than $2,080 per month.
• Individuals' resources are limited at $8,400.
• The combined assets of married couples cannot exceed $12,600.

Be advised that the QI program will not automatically renew you every year. To continue receiving QI benefits, you must reapply each year. Approval is granted on a first-come, first-served basis, with precedence given to individuals who participated in QI the previous year.

Qualified Disabled Working Individual Program

Only Medicare Part A premiums are covered by the Qualified Disabled Working Individual Program, or QDWI. According to Benefits.gov, you must meet the following requirements to be eligible for QDWI:

• Are under the age of 65, working, and disabled.
• When you returned to work, you lost your premium-free Medicare Part A coverage.
• You will not be eligible for medical aid from your home state.

You must also fulfill the QDWI income and resource restrictions, which differ by state and are slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii.

According to Medicare.gov, the following are the basic federal QDWI limits for 2022:

• Individuals must not make more than $4,615 per month.
• Married couples cannot make more than $6,189 per month.
• Individuals' resources are limited to $4,000.
• The combined assets of married couples cannot exceed $6,000.

How can I sign up for a Medicare Savings Program?

Contact your state's Medicaid office to apply and determine your eligibility for a Medicare Savings Program. Medicaid.gov contains contact information for your state's Medicaid program, eligibility requirements, and enrollment information.

For more information about Medicare, go to Medicare.gov or contact 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).