Plain-language guides to QMB, SLMB, QI, income limits, and how to apply.
Medicare isn't just for people 65 and older, and the Medicare Savings Program isn't either. Here's how QMB, SLMB, and QI eligibility works if you're on Medicare under 65 because of a disability.
Read more →Taking money out of a 401(k) or IRA can push your countable income over the Medicare Savings Program limit for the month you withdraw it. Here's how retirement account withdrawals are actually counted.
Read more →A part-time job, a raise, or your annual Social Security COLA can all change your countable income — but they're not treated the same way. Here's how each one affects your Medicare Savings Program eligibility.
Read more →In states that test assets for the Medicare Savings Program, a designated burial fund is protected up to $1,500 — but trusts and annuities are more complicated, and getting them wrong can jeopardize your eligibility.
Read more →If you qualify for a Medicare Savings Program, your coverage may start months before your application was approved — sometimes even before you applied. Here's how retroactive MSP coverage works.
Read more →QDWI is a fourth, lesser-known Medicare Savings Program for people under 65 who lost premium-free Part A by going back to work. Here's who qualifies and what it pays for in 2026.
Read more →Medicare Savings Program eligibility is based entirely on your income and assets, not on whether you choose Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan. QMB's billing protections and D-SNP eligibility rules still apply if you switch to Medicare Advantage.
Read more →Some income sources are excluded entirely from Medicare Savings Program eligibility calculations, not just partially disregarded like Social Security. Here's the verified list of what doesn't count, and how it differs from the standard $20/$65 disregards.
Read more →QMB already covers the same costs a Medigap policy is designed to cover, so most people don't need both. Here's what happens to an existing Medigap policy once you qualify, and whether you can buy a new one.
Read more →If you're not legally married, your partner's income generally doesn't count toward your Medicare Savings Program eligibility — even if you live together and share expenses. Here's how the 'individual' vs. 'couple' distinction actually works.
Read more →Ready to check your eligibility?
Check My Eligibility →