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Medicare and health costs

Medicare Savings Programs in Illinois

Illinois runs three Medicare Savings Programs, sometimes called Medicare Cost Sharing: QMB, SLIB (Illinois's name for SLMB) and QI-1.

Checked

From the Illinois Department of Human Services (for Illinois Medicaid)
An older woman in her kitchen reads a letter from the day's mail

They may pay your Medicare Part B premium, and with QMB also your Part A premium if you pay one, deductibles and coinsurance. Illinois sets aside the first $25 of your monthly income instead of $20, so its limits are a little higher than the federal ones.

How to apply in Illinois

In person
At your local IDHS Family Community Resource Center. The DHS Office Locator finds the one for your county.
By mail
Carry, mail or fax a paper application to your local Family Community Resource Center.

Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.

Apply on the official site

Who may qualify in Illinois

Who may qualify for Medicare Savings Program
2026 figuresOne personMarried couple
QMB income limit$1,330 a month (after the first $25 of income is set aside)$1,803 a month (after the first $25 of income is set aside)
SLIB (SLMB) income limit$1,595 a month (after the first $25 of income is set aside)$2,163 a month (after the first $25 of income is set aside)
QI-1 income limit$1,794 a month (after the first $25 of income is set aside)$2,433 a month (after the first $25 of income is set aside)
Savings limit$9,950$14,910

Source: Illinois Department of Human Services (source 1)

What you may get

What Medicare Savings Program pays
What QMB paysYour Part A premium (if you pay one) and Part B premium, plus deductibles and coinsurance for Medicare-covered services

Source: Illinois Department of Human Services (source 3)

What SLIB paysYour Part B premium only

Source: Illinois General Assembly, Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (source 4)

What QI-1 paysYour Part B premium only

Source: Illinois General Assembly, Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (source 4)

How Illinois is different

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

  • The first $25 of monthly income isn't counted, instead of the federal $20, so the limits are slightly higher than the federal ones

Source: Illinois Department of Human Services (source 2)

Free help

Free help with this in Illinois

More help in Illinois

Medicare Savings Programs in another state

Sources

  1. Illinois Department of Human Services, WAG 25-03-02 (2) Medical FPLs: AABD Medical/Medicare Savings Programs/HBWD 2026 Monthly Income Standards (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
  2. Illinois Department of Human Services, PM 06-12-01-c: Income Exemption (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
  3. Illinois Department of Human Services, PM 06-12-00: Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
  4. Illinois General Assembly, Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, 89 Ill. Adm. Code 120: Medical Assistance Programs (Sections 120.72 to 120.75) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
  5. Illinois Department of Human Services, Cash, SNAP & Medical Assistance (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.

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