Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) are Medicaid-administered programs for people on Medicare who have limited income and resources. These programs help those qualified to afford Medicare. If eligible, QMB will cover the Medicare premiums (Part A, if applicable), deductibles, copayments and/or coinsurance.
Who qualifies for a Medicare Savings ProgramView the income limits for the Medicaid Saving Program and other Medicaid programs on the income guidelines page.
Medicare Savings Programs Qualified Medicare Benefit (QMB)The QMB program helps you pay for Medicare costs if you have lower income and resources.
Specifically, the program pays for:
Extra Help:
If you qualify for the QMB program, you’ll also qualify for extra help. This is a program that helps to pay for the costs associated with a Medicare prescription drug plan (Medicare Part D). Extra Help covers things like:
Some pharmacies may still charge a small copay for prescriptions that are covered under Part D. For 2020, this copay is no more than $3.60 for a generic drug and $8.95 for each brand-name drug that is covered.
Extra Help only applies to Medicare Part D. It doesn’t cover premiums and costs associated with Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) or Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) plans.
Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries (SLMB) is a Medicaid program that will cover your Medicare Part B premiums if you have limited resources, an income below the poverty line, and are already receiving Medicare Part A.
People who qualify as an SLMB do not have to pay the Medicare Part B premium themselves, as Medicaid pays it instead. And these beneficiaries are also automatically eligible for Extra Help paying for Part D prescription coverage.
Extra Help:
If you qualify for the SLMB program, you’ll also qualify for extra help. This is a program that helps to pay for the costs associated with a Medicare prescription drug plan (Medicare Part D). Extra Help covers things like:
Some pharmacies may still charge a small copay for prescriptions that are covered under Part D. For 2020, this copay is no more than $3.60 for a generic drug and $8.95 for each brand-name drug that is covered.
Extra Help only applies to Medicare Part D. It doesn’t cover premiums and costs associated with Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) or Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) plans.