Medicare and health costs
QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary)
The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program is the most complete Medicare Savings Program. Your state pays your Part B premium, your Part A premium if you have one, and your Medicare deductibles, coinsurance and copays. Doctors and other Medicare providers aren't allowed to bill you for care Medicare covers.
Who may qualify
| One person | Married couple | |
|---|---|---|
| QMB income limit (2026) | $1,350 a month | $1,824 a month |
| Savings limit (2026) | $9,950 | $14,910 |
| Savings that don't count | Your home, one car, a burial plot, up to $1,500 set aside for burial, furniture and other household items |
|---|
Source: Medicare.gov (source 1)
What you may get
| Part B premium paid for you (2026 standard amount) | $202.90 a month |
|---|---|
| Deductibles, coinsurance and copays | Covered. Medicare providers aren't allowed to bill you for them Source: Medicare.gov (source 1) |
| Part A premium, if you don't get it free (2026) | $311 or $565 a month, depending on work history |
| Part B deductible covered (2026) | $283 a year |
| Part A hospital deductible covered (2026) | $1,736 per benefit period |
| Extra Help with drug costs | Comes with it. In 2026 you pay no more than $12.65 for each covered drug Source: Medicare.gov (source 1) |
Good to know
- Show both your Medicare card and your Medicaid or QMB card each time you get care. With Original Medicare, your Medicare Summary Notice also shows you're in QMB.
- If you get a bill for Medicare-covered care, tell the provider or debt collector that you're in the QMB program. If you already paid, you have the right to a refund: ask your state Medicaid office how to get it.
- In a Medicare Advantage plan, contact the plan to ask it to stop the charges. If a provider won't stop billing you, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
- You may still get a bill for a small Medicaid copayment, if one applies.
- You apply through your state, and your state may allow more income or savings than the federal limits shown here. Income limits are slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii.
- To get the phone number for your state's Medicaid office, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
Sources: Medicare.gov (source 1), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (source 4)
What people get wrong
MythMy doctor billed me for my Medicare copay, so I have to pay it.
Not true. Federal law bars Medicare providers and suppliers, including pharmacies, from billing people in the QMB program for Medicare deductibles, coinsurance and copays.
MythI own my home and a car, so my savings are too high.
Not true. States don't count your home, one car, a burial plot, up to $1,500 set aside for burial, or your furniture and household items.
MythMy income is a little over the limit, so there's no point applying.
Not true. Some states don't count certain income or savings, so you may qualify in your state even above the federal limits. Medicare says to apply even if you don't think you qualify.
Sources
- Medicare.gov, Medicare Savings Programs (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Medicare & You 2027 (the official Medicare handbook) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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