What are the 2026 Medicare Savings Program income limits?

In most states, $1,350 a month for one person or $1,824 for a married couple for QMB, $1,616 or $2,184 for SLMB, and $1,816 or $2,455 for QI. Alaska, Hawaii and several states, including Connecticut, DC, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New York and Washington, have higher limits. Mississippi and Illinois use a larger income disregard.

Is there an asset limit?

The federal limit for 2026 is $9,950 for one person or $14,910 for a married couple. Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, DC, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington have no asset test. California and Minnesota use their own limits. The home, one car and burial funds up to $1,500 each don’t count.

Gross Social Security or disability benefits before the Part B premium is taken out, pensions, and other unearned income count in full. From wages, the first $65 and half of the rest are excluded. The $20 general disregard is already built into the limits. States can exclude other income, so a client slightly over can still be worth an application.

Can someone under 65 qualify?

Yes. Anyone with Medicare Part A, including people on Medicare because of a disability, can qualify if their income and assets are under the limits.

Does a Medicare Savings Program qualify the client for a D-SNP?

Often, but not always. Each Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan accepts specific Medicaid categories, and some only take QMB or full Medicaid. Confirm the client’s category and the plan’s accepted categories before enrolling.

Do Medicare Savings Programs also help with drug costs?

Yes. Anyone approved for QMB, SLMB or QI automatically qualifies for Extra Help, which lowers Part D premiums, deductibles and copays.

Free tool for agents

Medicare Savings Program calculator and 2026 income limits

Check whether a Medicare client may qualify for QMB, SLMB or QI under their state’s 2026 income and asset limits, and what each program would pay.

State

Household

Monthly benefits and other income

Gross Social Security or disability (before Part B comes out), pensions, interest.

Monthly wages from work

Gross pay. The first $65 and half the rest don’t count.

2026 limits, which include each state’s income disregard. States switch to new limits each spring when the poverty guidelines update.

The result shows up here

Choose the client’s state and enter their monthly income to see whether they may qualify for QMB, SLMB or QI, what the program pays, and how close they are to the limit.

Quote the plans that fit

Dual-eligible clients often fit a D-SNP, and QMB clients rarely need extra cost-sharing coverage. Quote Medicare Advantage, D-SNPs and Medigap in QuoteDeck and send the client one link.

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2026 Medicare Savings Program income limits by state

Monthly income limits for a single person / married couple, including each state’s income disregard. Pick a state for its rules, program names and a calculator set to that state.

Alabama
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
No asset test
Alaska
QMB
$1,683 / $2,275
SLMB
$2,015 / $2,725
QI
$2,265 / $3,064
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Arizona
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
No asset test
Arkansas
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
California
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$130,000 / $195,000
Colorado
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Connecticut
QMB
$2,752 / $3,719
SLMB
$3,013 / $4,072
QI
$3,209 / $4,336
Assets
No asset test
Delaware
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
No asset test
District of Columbia
QMB
$4,010 / $5,430
SLMB
None
QI
None
Assets
No asset test
Florida
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Georgia
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Hawaii
QMB
$1,550 / $2,095
SLMB
$1,856 / $2,509
QI
$2,086 / $2,821
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Idaho
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Illinois
QMB
$1,355 / $1,829
SLMB
$1,621 / $2,189
QI
$1,821 / $2,460
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Indiana
QMB
$2,015 / $2,725
SLMB
$2,281 / $3,086
QI
$2,481 / $3,357
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Iowa
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Kansas
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Kentucky
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Louisiana
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
No asset test
Maine
QMB
$2,481 / $3,357
SLMB
$3,345 / $4,529
QI
$3,345 / $4,529
Assets
No asset test
Maryland
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Massachusetts
QMB
$2,385 / $3,237
SLMB
$2,824 / $3,833
QI
$2,824 / $3,833
Assets
No asset test
Michigan
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Minnesota
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$10,000 / $18,000
Mississippi
QMB
$1,380 / $1,854
SLMB
$1,646 / $2,214
QI
$1,846 / $2,485
Assets
No asset test
Missouri
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Montana
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Nebraska
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Nevada
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
New Hampshire
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
New Jersey
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
New Mexico
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
No asset test
New York
QMB
$1,856 / $2,509
SLMB
None
QI
$2,494 / $3,375
Assets
No asset test
North Carolina
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
North Dakota
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Ohio
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Oklahoma
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Oregon
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
No asset test
Pennsylvania
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Rhode Island
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
South Carolina
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
South Dakota
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Tennessee
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Texas
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Utah
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Vermont
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
No asset test
Virginia
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Washington
QMB
$1,454 / $1,959
SLMB
$1,585 / $2,136
QI
$1,820 / $2,453
Assets
No asset test
West Virginia
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Wisconsin
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910
Wyoming
QMB
$1,350 / $1,824
SLMB
$1,616 / $2,184
QI
$1,816 / $2,455
Assets
$9,950 / $14,910

State	QMB	SLMB	QI	Asset limit
Alabama	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	No asset test
Alaska	$1,683 / $2,275	$2,015 / $2,725	$2,265 / $3,064	$9,950 / $14,910
Arizona	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	No asset test
Arkansas	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
California	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$130,000 / $195,000
Colorado	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Connecticut	$2,752 / $3,719	$3,013 / $4,072	$3,209 / $4,336	No asset test
Delaware	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	No asset test
District of Columbia	$4,010 / $5,430	None	None	No asset test
Florida	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Georgia	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Hawaii	$1,550 / $2,095	$1,856 / $2,509	$2,086 / $2,821	$9,950 / $14,910
Idaho	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Illinois	$1,355 / $1,829	$1,621 / $2,189	$1,821 / $2,460	$9,950 / $14,910
Indiana	$2,015 / $2,725	$2,281 / $3,086	$2,481 / $3,357	$9,950 / $14,910
Iowa	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Kansas	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Kentucky	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Louisiana	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	No asset test
Maine	$2,481 / $3,357	$3,345 / $4,529	$3,345 / $4,529	No asset test
Maryland	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Massachusetts	$2,385 / $3,237	$2,824 / $3,833	$2,824 / $3,833	No asset test
Michigan	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Minnesota	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$10,000 / $18,000
Mississippi	$1,380 / $1,854	$1,646 / $2,214	$1,846 / $2,485	No asset test
Missouri	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Montana	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Nebraska	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Nevada	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
New Hampshire	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
New Jersey	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
New Mexico	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	No asset test
New York	$1,856 / $2,509	None	$2,494 / $3,375	No asset test
North Carolina	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
North Dakota	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Ohio	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Oklahoma	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Oregon	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	No asset test
Pennsylvania	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Rhode Island	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
South Carolina	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
South Dakota	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Tennessee	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Texas	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Utah	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Vermont	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	No asset test
Virginia	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Washington	$1,454 / $1,959	$1,585 / $2,136	$1,820 / $2,453	No asset test
West Virginia	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Wisconsin	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910
Wyoming	$1,350 / $1,824	$1,616 / $2,184	$1,816 / $2,455	$9,950 / $14,910

Maine and Massachusetts combine SLMB and QI into one band, shown in both columns. New York has no separate SLMB, and DC runs QMB only.

What QMB, SLMB and QI pay

Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB): Part B premium ($202.90 a month in 2026), Part A premium if owed (up to $565), the $1,736 Part A deductible, the $283 Part B deductible, and Medicare coinsurance and copays. Providers cannot bill a QMB member for Medicare cost-sharing. Coverage starts: The month after the state approves it.
Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB): The Part B premium only. Coverage starts: Up to 3 months retroactive.
Qualifying Individual (QI): The Part B premium only. Funding is first come, first served, and the client cannot also have Medicaid. Coverage starts: Up to 3 months retroactive, within the calendar year.

Anyone approved for QMB, SLMB or QI also gets Extra Help with Part D drug costs automatically.

Questions agents ask

What are the 2026 Medicare Savings Program income limits?: In most states, $1,350 a month for one person or $1,824 for a married couple for QMB, $1,616 or $2,184 for SLMB, and $1,816 or $2,455 for QI. Alaska, Hawaii and several states, including Connecticut, DC, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New York and Washington, have higher limits. Mississippi and Illinois use a larger income disregard.
Is there an asset limit?: The federal limit for 2026 is $9,950 for one person or $14,910 for a married couple. Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, DC, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington have no asset test. California and Minnesota use their own limits. The home, one car and burial funds up to $1,500 each don’t count.
Which income counts?: Gross Social Security or disability benefits before the Part B premium is taken out, pensions, and other unearned income count in full. From wages, the first $65 and half of the rest are excluded. The $20 general disregard is already built into the limits. States can exclude other income, so a client slightly over can still be worth an application.
Can someone under 65 qualify?: Yes. Anyone with Medicare Part A, including people on Medicare because of a disability, can qualify if their income and assets are under the limits.
Does a Medicare Savings Program qualify the client for a D-SNP?: Often, but not always. Each Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan accepts specific Medicaid categories, and some only take QMB or full Medicaid. Confirm the client’s category and the plan’s accepted categories before enrolling.
Do Medicare Savings Programs also help with drug costs?: Yes. Anyone approved for QMB, SLMB or QI automatically qualifies for Extra Help, which lowers Part D premiums, deductibles and copays.

This is a screening estimate, not a Medicaid decision. The state agency makes the final call. Reviewing plans for next year? Try the Medicare plan changes lookup.

Sources: Medicare.gov: Medicare Savings Programs, NCOA: MSP eligibility and coverage (2026), SSA POMS HI 00815.023.