What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
For 2026, the standard federal monthly income limits for Medicare Savings Programs range from $1,350 for an individual in QMB to $5,405 for an individual in QDWI. The programs also have resource limits, but these federal figures are only a screening guide: states may use higher income limits, disregard some income or resources, or not count resources for certain programs. Apply through your state Medicaid agency rather than ruling yourself out based only on the federal chart.
What Medicare Savings Programs do
Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) are state-administered programs that can help people with limited income and resources pay certain Medicare costs. The four programs are Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB), Qualifying Individual (QI), and Qualified Disabled and Working Individuals (QDWI). The right program depends on the kind of Medicare cost involved, the applicant’s circumstances, and the state’s eligibility rules.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The distinction between premiums and cost-sharing matters. A premium is the amount paid for Medicare coverage; deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments are amounts a person may owe for covered care. QMB can help with both premiums and Medicare-covered cost-sharing. SLMB and QI help pay the Part B premium, while QDWI helps pay the Part A premium for a narrower group of disabled people who return to work. These programs do not all provide the same kind of help.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The figures below are the standard federal 2026 limits published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). They are not a final eligibility decision. State rules can be more generous, and the state agency determines whether a person qualifies.
#1 Best Overall
2026 income and resource limits by program
Income limits shown here are monthly. Resource limits are listed separately and apply to the resources the state counts under its rules. The figures are for an individual or a married couple; they are not annual income amounts.
| Program | Monthly income limit, individual | Monthly income limit, married couple | Resource limit, individual / couple | What it helps pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QMB | $1,350 | $1,824 | $9,950 / $14,910 | Part A premium when applicable, Part B premium, and Medicare-covered deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments |
| SLMB | $1,616 | $2,184 | $9,950 / $14,910 | Part B premiums |
| QI | $1,816 | $2,455 | $9,950 / $14,910 | Part B premiums |
| QDWI | $5,405 | $7,299 | $4,000 / $6,000 | Part A premiums only |
These are CMS’s 2026 federal figures. Alaska and Hawaii have somewhat higher income limits. The resource limits shown for QMB, SLMB, and QI are the same in this federal chart; QDWI has lower resource limits. State rules may change which income or resources count, or use limits above those shown.
How to read the figures
- Compare income with the monthly limit. The chart is not an annual-income test. If income varies, or includes earnings from work, ask the state agency how it evaluates the amount and what disregards apply.
- Check the right household column. The listed couple amounts are for married couples. If your household situation does not fit the chart, ask the state which limit and household rules apply rather than assuming which column to use.
- Do not treat the chart as a hard cutoff. A person slightly above a federal figure may still qualify under state rules or an income disregard. Applying is the only way to get an eligibility decision.
- Do not mix up income and resources. The income figures are monthly. The resource figures are separate ceilings, and state rules determine what is counted.
What income and assets count?
CMS’s federal guide gives examples of resources that may count, including money in checking or savings accounts, stocks, and bonds. It also lists examples that should not be included under the guide: a home, one car, a burial plot, up to $1,500 set aside for burial costs, furniture, and other household or personal items. These are federal guide examples, not a complete inventory of every state’s treatment of assets.
Do not assume that an asset automatically disqualifies you because it appears in a general list, or that an item is excluded in precisely the same way in every state. Some states use higher limits or do not count resources for QMB, SLMB, and QI. States may also disregard certain types or amounts of income. The state Medicaid agency can explain which rules apply to your application.
Work income deserves particular care. CMS notes that people who work may qualify even when their income is above the listed federal limits. The federal chart alone does not show how a particular state treats earnings or other income. If wages put you over a displayed amount, ask the agency whether a disregard applies and submit an application if you want an official determination.
Which program may fit your situation?
QMB: premiums and Medicare-covered cost-sharing
QMB is the broadest cost-sharing help among the four MSP categories described here. It can pay the Part B premium, a Part A premium when one applies, and Medicare-covered deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. The federal 2026 monthly income limits are $1,350 for an individual and $1,824 for a married couple; the resource limits are $9,950 and $14,910, respectively.
QMB has an important billing protection: providers may not bill QMB beneficiaries for Medicare-covered services and items, including deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. A small Medicaid copayment may apply where relevant. This protection concerns Medicare-covered care; it should not be read as a promise that every service, item, or charge is covered by Medicare.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
SLMB: help with the Part B premium
SLMB helps pay the Part B premium, rather than the Medicare-covered cost-sharing listed for QMB. Its 2026 federal monthly income limits are $1,616 for an individual and $2,184 for a married couple. The federal resource limits are $9,950 and $14,910. Medicare says SLMB applicants need Part A and Part B.
QI: Part B premium help with an annual application
QI also helps pay the Part B premium. Its 2026 federal monthly income limits are $1,816 for an individual and $2,455 for a married couple, with resource limits of $9,950 and $14,910. Medicare says applicants need Part A and Part B. Unlike a general assumption that all MSPs renew the same way, QI has a specific annual rule: recipients must apply every year to remain in the program.
States approve QI applications on a first-come, first-served basis, and give priority to people who received QI the previous year. That priority does not remove the annual application requirement. If you receive QI, find out from your state agency when and how to submit the next application.
QDWI: Part A premium help for certain working people with disabilities
QDWI is for certain disabled people who return to work, lose premium-free Part A, and lose disability benefits after returning to work. It helps pay the Part A premium only. Its 2026 federal monthly income limits are $5,405 for an individual and $7,299 for a married couple; its resource limits are $4,000 and $6,000. Those limits differ from the limits for QMB, SLMB, and QI, so do not use the other programs’ resource figures to screen for QDWI.
Recommended Free Tools
How to apply
Apply through the Medicaid or Medical Assistance office in your state. That office—not the federal chart—determines which program or programs fit your circumstances and applies the state’s rules. CMS’s April 2026 publication, Get help with your Medicare costs: Getting Started (Product No. 10126), puts the central point plainly: “The only way to know if you qualify is to apply.”
- Find your state Medicaid agency. Use the state’s Medicaid or Medical Assistance office as the starting point for an MSP application and questions about eligibility.
- Identify the costs you need help with. If your concern is the Part B premium, ask about SLMB and QI as well as QMB. If you need help with Medicare-covered cost-sharing, ask about QMB. If you are a disabled person who returned to work and lost premium-free Part A and disability benefits, ask whether QDWI applies.
- Describe income and resources accurately. Give the agency the information it requests, including work income and financial resources. Ask how the state treats any item or income source you are unsure about; the federal examples do not settle every state-specific question.
- Ask about the state’s process and deadlines. Application forms, evidence requests, and next steps are set through the state process. Follow the agency’s instructions and respond to requests for information by the stated deadline.
- Wait for the state’s determination. A federal limit or an outreach letter is not an approval. The state agency decides whether you qualify and which program applies.
It can be worth applying even if the federal chart suggests your income or resources are slightly too high. State limits and disregards can change the result, and a chart cannot account for every individual situation. A free State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) counselor may also be available locally to help you understand Medicare options; availability and services depend on location.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Renewals and notices: what to expect
QI recipients must apply every year to remain enrolled. For QMB, SLMB, and QDWI, the national CMS materials reviewed here do not establish one uniform renewal cycle or redetermination procedure. Do not assume these programs all require annual reapplication, and do not assume they never require a renewal. The state agency sets the applicable process.
Read and answer renewal notices or requests for information from your state Medicaid agency. Contact the agency directly if you are unsure when renewal is due, what proof is required, or whether a change in income or resources needs to be reported. Keep track of agency deadlines and follow the instructions on the notice; the federal program summaries do not specify a single national form, deadline, or document list for every state.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Medicare says it sends Social Security Low Income Subsidy (LIS) and MSP outreach notices in mid-May and late November to people it believes may qualify. These notices invite recipients to explore eligibility. They are not approval letters and should not be mistaken for an MSP renewal notice.
QMB bills and Medicare drug costs
If a provider bills you for Medicare-covered care
If you are enrolled in QMB and receive a bill for Medicare-covered services or items, show the provider your Medicare card and Medicaid or QMB card, then contact the provider or your state Medicaid office. Medicare’s QMB protection bars providers from billing QMB beneficiaries for Medicare-covered deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. A small Medicaid copayment may apply where relevant, so ask the state office if you cannot tell what a charge is for.
Extra Help is separate from an MSP premium payment
QMB, SLMB, and QI beneficiaries also qualify for Extra Help with Medicare drug costs under the reviewed CMS guide. Extra Help is distinct from the MSP benefits described above: do not interpret Part B premium assistance as payment of a Part D premium by the MSP itself. If you have questions about how drug-cost assistance applies to your coverage, ask Medicare or your state agency which assistance you receive and what costs it addresses.
When to recheck the numbers
The limits in this article are the standard federal figures for 2026, current through October 9, 2026. Medicare says limits increase each year, so a 2026 chart should not be reused as the following year’s eligibility guide. Check the current federal figures and your state’s rules when applying in a later calendar year; the state Medicaid agency remains the source for an individual eligibility decision.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteQuick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
