Seniors › Medicare Savings Program calculator

What these programs actually pay

The Part B premium comes out of most Social Security checks every month, and over a year it adds up to real money. The Medicare Savings Programs hand that bill to your state instead, and the biggest one covers your Medicare copays too:

• QMB (up to 100% of the poverty line) — pays the Part B premium and most Medicare deductibles and copays.
• SLMB (up to 120%) — pays the Part B premium.
• QI (up to 135%) — pays the Part B premium, but funding is first come, first served. It can run out mid-year, so apply early.
• Extra Help (up to 150%) — a federal program that cuts Part D drug costs to a few dollars per prescription.

Why being "a little over" is not a no

The rules ignore the first $20 a month of income before comparing. Many states allow more income than the federal floor, and some drop the savings test entirely. On top of that, getting into a Medicare Savings Program signs you up for Extra Help automatically. This is why the honest advice is: if you are anywhere near these lines, apply and let the state do the real math.

Not just for people over 65

These cut-offs apply to anyone with Medicare — including people under 65 who get it through disability. Same programs, same lines.

Our guides on the Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help walk through applying step by step.