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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallMedicare Savings Programs (MSPs) help pay certain Medicare Part A and Part B costs; Extra Help reduces Medicare Part D prescription drug costs. They address different parts of Medicare, and some people can receive both. In 2026, qualifying for QMB, SLMB, or QI also automatically qualifies a person for Extra Help. The programs have different income and resource limits, and state rules may be more generous than the federal figures.
How Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help differ
Medicare is divided into parts with different costs. MSPs focus on Part A and Part B expenses: depending on the MSP category, help may cover premiums or also Medicare-covered deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Extra Help focuses on Part D, which covers prescription drugs. It can help with a Part D plan’s premium, deductible, coinsurance, and other drug costs.
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That difference is the quickest way to identify which program may address a particular bill. For help with a Part B premium, look at the MSP categories that pay it. For Part D drug costs, look at Extra Help. Someone who qualifies for certain MSPs may receive both kinds of assistance rather than having to choose between them.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The programs are not competing versions of the same benefit. An MSP does not become a Part D drug benefit because someone has both programs, and Extra Help does not pay the Medicare medical cost sharing covered under QMB. If a household is struggling with both medical bills and prescription costs, it may need to check eligibility for each type of assistance.
| Program | Main benefit | 2026 federal income limit | 2026 federal resource limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| QMB | Part A premium when applicable; Part B premium; Medicare-covered deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments | $1,350 per month for an individual; $1,824 per month for a couple | $9,950 for an individual; $14,910 for a couple |
| SLMB | Part B premiums | $1,616 per month for an individual; $2,184 per month for a couple | $9,950 for an individual; $14,910 for a couple |
| QI | Part B premiums | $1,816 per month for an individual; $2,455 per month for a couple | $9,950 for an individual; $14,910 for a couple |
| QDWI | Part A premiums for eligible working people with disabilities who lost premium-free Part A after returning to work | $5,405 per month for an individual; $7,299 per month for a couple | $4,000 for an individual; $6,000 for a couple |
| Extra Help | Part D premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other drug costs | $23,940 per year for an individual; $32,460 per year for a couple | $18,090 for an individual; $36,100 for a couple |
These are 2026 federal figures reported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The MSP income amounts are monthly; the Extra Help income figures are annual. Do not compare the numbers without accounting for that difference. Income and resource thresholds are eligibility screens, not a complete determination of eligibility.
As a quick comparison, QMB, SLMB, and QI share the same listed 2026 resource limits, but their federal income limits rise by category. QDWI has its own limits and qualifying circumstances. Extra Help has substantially different annual income figures and its own resource limits. The table helps identify where to ask questions; it cannot establish a person’s eligibility by itself.
What each program pays for
QMB: premiums and Medicare-covered cost sharing
The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program can pay the Part B premium and, when a person does not have premium-free Part A, the Part A premium. It also covers Medicare-covered deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. This makes QMB the MSP category with the broadest Medicare medical cost-sharing help among the categories compared here.
CMS says providers may not bill QMB beneficiaries for Medicare-covered services and items. A small Medicaid copayment may apply where allowed. This protection concerns Medicare-covered services and items; it should not be read as a promise that every service, item, or charge is free. The key distinction is that QMB includes covered medical cost sharing, whereas SLMB and QI provide Part B premium help.
SLMB and QI: Part B premium assistance
The Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) and Qualifying Individual (QI) programs pay the Part B premium. Applicants for either program must have both Part A and Part B. These categories do not provide the QMB coverage of Medicare-covered deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.
QI has additional rules: a person must not qualify for other Medicaid coverage or benefits, funding is first-come, first-served, and an application is required each year. Those conditions make it especially important for someone relying on QI to check the application and renewal process with the state rather than assuming that last year’s approval carries forward. The yearly application requirement is specific to QI in the program information presented here; applicants should ask the state about any other renewal requirements that apply to their case.
QDWI: Part A premiums in a specific work-and-disability situation
The Qualified Disabled and Working Individuals (QDWI) program pays the Part A premium for a person with a disability who is working and lost Social Security disability benefits and premium-free Part A after returning to work. It is a targeted route for that situation, not a general Part A or Part B assistance category. Its 2026 federal resource limit is also lower than the listed limits for QMB, SLMB, and QI.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsBecause QDWI’s qualifying situation is narrow, a person should not assume that the program is the right route merely because they have a disability or need help with Part A costs. The described criteria also include working and having lost disability benefits and premium-free Part A after returning to work. QDWI is not one of the MSP categories identified as automatically qualifying someone for Extra Help.
Extra Help: Part D prescription drug costs
Extra Help assists with Part D plan premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other prescription drug costs. It also removes the Part D late enrollment penalty while the person receives Extra Help. The actual coverage and costs depend on program rules and the person’s drug plan, so eligibility for Extra Help does not by itself specify the price of every medication or plan.
Extra Help concerns Part D costs, not the Part A and Part B bills addressed by MSPs. Someone who receives Extra Help should still check whether an MSP could help with Part B premiums or, in the case of QMB, Medicare-covered cost sharing. Conversely, MSP approval does not tell a beneficiary exactly what a particular Part D plan or prescription will cost.
How to read the 2026 eligibility limits
For QMB, SLMB, QI, and QDWI, the table shows monthly income limits and resource limits. For Extra Help, CMS lists annual income limits and resource limits. The individual and couple columns are separate thresholds; use the category that applies to the applicant’s household situation rather than combining the figures.
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- Income is not the only factor. The table also shows resource limits, which differ by program. Meeting an income threshold alone does not establish eligibility.
- Thresholds differ by MSP category. QMB has lower listed federal income limits than SLMB and QI; QI’s are higher than SLMB’s. QDWI has a distinct set of income and resource limits for its particular eligibility group.
- Extra Help’s income figures use a different time period. Its listed individual and couple income limits are annual, unlike the monthly MSP income limits.
- Federal figures do not settle every case. Medicare says limits may be higher in Alaska and Hawaii. States may also permit higher income or resource levels or disregard some income or resources.
- Earnings do not automatically rule someone out. Some people with earnings may qualify above the listed federal income limits. Ask the state agency about the rules that apply before deciding not to apply.
The figures above are 2026 federal limits, not state-specific eligibility promises. A person just over a federal figure—or uncertain about how income or resources count—should check with the state rather than self-disqualify. State eligibility details and procedures depend on where the person lives and their circumstances.
Use the time period shown in the table when comparing income: an MSP monthly amount and an Extra Help annual amount are not directly comparable as printed. The listed figures also do not explain every state rule or how a specific person’s circumstances will be treated. Medicare notes that limits may be higher in Alaska and Hawaii, and a state may allow higher limits or disregard some income or resources. That is why the federal table is a starting point rather than a reason to rule yourself out.
When one program can qualify you for the other
QMB, SLMB, and QI automatically qualify a recipient for Extra Help. Full-benefit Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or state assistance paying Part B premiums through an MSP also automatically qualifies a person for Extra Help. Medicare identifies these as routes to Extra Help; QDWI alone is not among the listed routes, so do not assume that QDWI approval by itself confers Extra Help.
The programs still serve different purposes when they overlap. MSP assistance is directed to the covered Part A or Part B costs for the person’s category, while Extra Help concerns Part D drug costs. Automatic qualification for Extra Help through an eligible program does not mean the MSP itself pays Part D costs.
A person does not need to wait to apply for one before considering the other. Medicare says applicants can apply for Extra Help and an MSP at the same time. Social Security can send information to the state to start an MSP application based on an Extra Help application, unless the applicant opts out on that application.
That shared application path can be useful if someone is unsure whether they qualify for an MSP. Applying for Extra Help can allow Social Security to pass information to the state to begin the MSP process, but the applicant can opt out of that information sharing on the Extra Help application. The state remains responsible for the MSP decision, while Social Security handles Extra Help applications.
How to apply and what happens after approval
Apply for an MSP through your state
Medicare directs applicants to apply for Medicare Savings Programs through their state. The state handles the MSP application and determines eligibility under the rules that apply there. Because states can differ in eligibility details and procedure, use the state’s application route for the current instructions and ask about any income or resource exclusions relevant to the applicant.
Medicare.gov’s guidance is direct: “You’ll apply for Medicare Savings Programs through your state.” In practical terms, a national eligibility table cannot answer state-specific questions about applying or how more generous state rules may affect a case. Contact the appropriate state office for its instructions.
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Apply for Extra Help through Social Security
Extra Help applications go through Social Security. Medicare also points people to the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free assistance. SHIP can help someone understand the application process; it is not a substitute for the agency that decides the application.
- Identify the cost you need help with. For Part A or Part B premiums and medical cost sharing, check the MSP categories. For Part D drug costs, check Extra Help. If both kinds of costs matter, consider applying for both.
- Check the applicable state rules as well as the 2026 federal figures. Use the federal table as a guide, not a final ruling, particularly if you live in Alaska or Hawaii, have earnings, or may qualify under a state’s more generous rules.
- Submit the MSP application to your state and the Extra Help application through Social Security. They may be pursued at the same time. On the Extra Help application, note that Social Security may send information to the state to start an MSP application unless you opt out.
- Use SHIP if you need free application help. For questions about state MSP eligibility or procedure, contact the state agency; for the Extra Help application route, contact Social Security.
If Extra Help is approved and the person does not already have a Part D plan, Medicare says the person will be automatically enrolled in a drug plan. The person can choose a different plan. Approval therefore can lead to plan enrollment, but it does not mean the person must remain in the automatically selected plan.
Medicare says Extra Help recipients keep the benefit through December 31 even if income changes during the year. Continuation into the next year depends on meeting the next-year limits. QI has a separate annual application requirement, so people using QI should make a new application each year.
These after-approval rules answer two common concerns: receiving Extra Help does not lock someone into the plan selected through automatic enrollment, and a midyear income change does not end Extra Help immediately under Medicare’s stated rule. The benefit continues through December 31; whether it continues the following year depends on meeting that year’s limits. QI recipients, meanwhile, need to apply each year.
Which route should you check first?
Start with the bill or premium that is difficult to afford, then identify whether it belongs to Part A, Part B, or Part D. That avoids treating these programs as interchangeable when their coverage is different.
- You need help with Part B premiums: check QMB, SLMB, and QI, which all provide Part B premium assistance, subject to their individual requirements and state rules.
- You need help with Medicare-covered deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments: QMB is the MSP category in this comparison that includes those costs.
- You need help with a Part A premium after returning to work while disabled: check whether the specific QDWI conditions apply.
- You need help paying for Part D coverage or prescription drugs: check Extra Help.
- You need help with both medical coverage costs and drug costs: investigate both routes. Approval for QMB, SLMB, or QI automatically qualifies a recipient for Extra Help, and applications can be made at the same time.
A federal threshold can help identify which program to investigate, but it is not a substitute for an eligibility decision. State rules may change the result, and the applicant’s program category, income, resources, and circumstances all matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help?
Medicare Savings Programs help pay certain Part A and Part B costs. Depending on the category, that may mean Part B premiums, a Part A premium, or Medicare-covered deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Extra Help helps with Part D prescription drug plan premiums and other drug costs.
Can I get a Medicare Savings Program and Extra Help at the same time?
Yes. Medicare says a person can apply for both at the same time. Approval for QMB, SLMB, or QI automatically qualifies the recipient for Extra Help. Full-benefit Medicaid, SSI, and state assistance paying Part B premiums through an MSP also automatically qualify a person for Extra Help. QDWI alone is not one of the listed automatic routes.
Which Medicare Savings Program helps with copayments and deductibles?
QMB includes Medicare-covered deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments, as well as the Part B premium and, when applicable, the Part A premium. SLMB and QI pay the Part B premium but do not include the QMB medical cost-sharing coverage described here.
Do the 2026 income limits use monthly or annual amounts?
The federal MSP income limits shown here are monthly. The Extra Help income limits are annual: $23,940 for an individual and $32,460 for a couple. Resource limits are also listed for each program, and meeting an income limit alone does not establish eligibility.
Where do I apply for an MSP or Extra Help?
Apply for an MSP through your state. Apply for Extra Help through Social Security. Medicare says the two applications can be pursued together, and Social Security can send information to the state to start an MSP application unless you opt out on the Extra Help application. SHIP offers free assistance with the process.
What happens if my income changes after I get Extra Help?
Medicare says Extra Help recipients keep the benefit through December 31 even if income changes during the year. Continuation into the next year depends on meeting the next-year limits. If you receive QI, remember that it requires an application each year.
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What if my income is above the federal limit or I live in Alaska or Hawaii?
Do not assume you are ineligible based only on the federal table. Medicare says limits may be higher in Alaska and Hawaii, and states may allow higher income or resource levels or disregard some income or resources. Some people with earnings may qualify above the listed federal income limits. Ask your state about the rules that apply to your situation.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: MSPs address Medicare Part A and Part B costs; Extra Help addresses Part D drug costs. QMB, SLMB, and QI automatically qualify a recipient for Extra Help, and you can apply for both at once. Use the 2026 federal limits as a starting point, not a final decision: the income periods differ, resource limits also matter, and state rules may be more generous. Apply for an MSP through your state, apply for Extra Help through Social Security, and use SHIP for free help understanding the process.
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