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Medicare and health costs

Medicare Savings Programs in Hawaii

Hawaii's Med-QUEST Division runs three Medicare Savings Programs: QMB, SLMB and QI-1. They may pay your Medicare Part B premium, and with QMB also your Part A premium, deductibles and coinsurance.

Checked

From the Hawaii Department of Human Services, Med-QUEST Division
An older woman in her kitchen reads a letter from the day's mail

The income limits are higher than on the mainland because Hawaii has its own, higher federal poverty level.

How to apply in Hawaii

In person
At a Med-QUEST eligibility office. There are offices on Hawaii Island (Hilo and Kona), Kauai, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Oahu (Honolulu, Kapolei and Waipahu).
By mail
Print the DHS 1100 application, fill it in, and mail or fax it to the Med-QUEST eligibility office nearest you.
Who runs it
Hawaii Department of Human Services, Med-QUEST Division

Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.

Apply on the official site

Who may qualify in Hawaii

Who may qualify for Medicare Savings Program
2026 figuresOne personMarried couple
QMB income limit$1,530 a month (after the first $20 of income is set aside)$2,075 a month (after the first $20 of income is set aside)
SLMB income limit$1,836 a month (after the first $20 of income is set aside)$2,490 a month (after the first $20 of income is set aside)
QI income limit$2,066 a month (after the first $20 of income is set aside)$2,801 a month (after the first $20 of income is set aside)
Savings limit$9,950$14,910

Source: Hawaii Department of Human Services, Med-QUEST Division (source 1)

What you may get

What Medicare Savings Program pays
What QMB paysYour Part A and Part B premiums, plus Medicare deductibles and coinsurance
What SLMB paysYour Part B premium only
What QI-1 paysYour Part B premium only

Source: Hawaii Department of Human Services, Med-QUEST Division (source 2)

How Hawaii is different

Where Hawaii's rules differ from the federal rules for Medicare Savings Programs.

  • Savings limit goes up $500 for each extra person in your household

Source: Hawaii Department of Human Services, Med-QUEST Division (source 1)

Good to know

  • Med-QUEST lists each income limit after the first $20 of monthly income is set aside. The federal figures for Hawaii, which include that $20, are $1,550 and $2,095 for QMB, $1,856 and $2,509 for SLMB, and $2,086 and $2,821 for QI (one person and married couple).
  • Hawaii's limits are higher than in most states because the federal poverty level is set higher for Hawaii.
  • Med-QUEST's Medicare Savings Program brochure lists eligibility offices in Hilo, Kona, Lihue, Wailuku, Kaunakakai, Lanai City, Honolulu, Kapolei and Waipahu.

Sources: Social Security Administration (source 4), Hawaii Department of Human Services, Med-QUEST Division (source 2)

Free help

Free help with this in Hawaii

More help in Hawaii

Medicare Savings Programs in another state

Sources

  1. Hawaii Department of Human Services, Med-QUEST Division, 2026 MAGI and MAGI-Excepted Income Standards (effective 01/13/2026) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
  2. Hawaii Department of Human Services, Med-QUEST Division, Get Help With Your Medicare Costs: Medicare Savings Program (DHS 8000H, Rev. 02/2025) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
  3. Hawaii Department of Human Services, Med-QUEST Division, Apply for Medicaid (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
  4. Social Security Administration, HI 00815.023 Medicare Savings Programs Income and Resource Limits (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.

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