Medicare and health costs

SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary)

The Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) program is a Medicare Savings Program that pays your Part B premium. It's for people whose income is a little above the QMB limit. Your state runs it, and it also brings Extra Help with drug costs.

Checked Oct 28, 2026

Rules set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

An older woman in her kitchen reads a letter from the day's mail

Who may qualify

Who may qualify for SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary)
	One person	Married couple
SLMB income limit (2026)	$1,616 a month	$2,184 a month
Savings limit (2026)	$9,950	$14,910

Medicare you need	Both Part A and Part B
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

What SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary) pays
Part B premium paid for you (2026 standard amount)	$202.90 a month Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (source 2)
What SLMB pays	Your Part B premium only Source: Medicare.gov (source 1)
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

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.
If you apply for Extra Help through Social Security, it sends your information to your state to start a Medicare Savings Program application, unless you tell it not to.

Sources: Medicare.gov (source 1), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (source 3)

What people get wrong

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.
MythI'd have to apply separately for help with drug costs.
No. If your state pays your Part B premium through a Medicare Savings Program, you get Extra Help with drug costs automatically.

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, Medicare & You 2027 (the official Medicare handbook) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
Medicare.gov, Help with drug costs (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.

Was this page helpful?

Report an error on this page

Email address

First name (optional)

So we can say hello. That's all we use it for, and there's no timeshare pitch.

Your state (optional)

For updates about programs in your state.