Senior Aid Finder Guide

Medicare Savings Programs in 2026: QMB, SLMB, QI and QDWI Explained

Reviewed August 27, 2026 · Independent informational service

Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) are state Medicaid programs that can help people with limited income and resources pay Medicare costs. The four programs are QMB, SLMB, QI and QDWI. They sound similar, but they do different jobs.

Start with the benefit, not the acronym

QMB is the broadest of the common MSPs: it can help with Part A and Part B premiums and with Medicare deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. SLMB and QI focus on the Part B premium. QDWI is designed for certain working people with disabilities who lost premium-free Part A.

2026 screening figures

Medicare publishes federal monthly income and resource figures each year. In 2026, for example, SLMB lists $1,616 monthly income for one person and $2,184 for a married couple, while QI lists $1,816 and $2,455. Medicare also says limits can be higher in some states. That warning matters: a federal table is a screening tool, not a final state decision.

Why a borderline applicant should still ask the state

States can use different counting rules, and some people have income or resources that are excluded. If you are close to a published limit, contact your state Medicaid agency rather than rejecting yourself. Bring recent proof of income, information about savings and investments, and your Medicare details.

A useful side benefit

People who qualify for an MSP also receive Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs. That makes an MSP application worth checking even when the monthly premium savings alone seem modest.

Before you apply

• Confirm you have the Medicare parts required by the program.
• Use current-year figures, not an old blog post or social-media graphic.
• Ask your state how it counts income and resources.
• Keep a copy of the application and documents.