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Medicare and health costs

Medicare Savings Programs in Iowa

Iowa Medicaid runs three Medicare Savings Programs: QMB, SLMB and E-SLMB, which is Iowa's name for QI.

Checked

From the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa 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. Iowa uses the federal income and savings limits, and you can apply online, by phone, by mail or at a local HHS office.

How to apply in Iowa

In person
At any local Iowa HHS office, or at a federally qualified health center (FQHC) in Iowa.
By mail
Mail the completed application to Imaging Center 4, PO Box 2027, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406, or email or fax it to a local HHS office.

Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.

Apply on the official site

Who may qualify in Iowa

Who may qualify for Medicare Savings Program
2026 figuresOne personMarried couple
QMB income limit$1,330 a month (after the first $20 of income is set aside)$1,804 a month (after the first $20 of income is set aside)
SLMB income limitUnder $1,596 a month (after the first $20 of income is set aside)Under $2,164 a month (after the first $20 of income is set aside)
E-SLMB (QI) income limitUnder $1,796 a month (after the first $20 of income is set aside)Under $2,435 a month (after the first $20 of income is set aside)
Savings limit$9,950$14,910

Source: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (source 2)

What you may get

What Medicare Savings Program pays
What QMB paysYour Part A premium (when you have one) and Part B premium and deductible, plus coinsurance and deductibles for care Medicare covers
What SLMB paysYour Part B premium only
What E-SLMB paysYour Part B premium only

Source: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (source 2)

Good to know

  • Iowa lists each limit as net countable income, after the first $20 of monthly income is set aside, so $1,330 here lines up with the federal $1,350 for QMB, and the other limits line up the same way.

Source: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (source 3)

Free help

Free help with this in Iowa

More help in Iowa

Medicare Savings Programs in another state

Sources

  1. Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Medicare Savings Program (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
  2. Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
  3. Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
  4. Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Expanded Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (E-SLMB) Program (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
  5. Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Apply for Medicaid (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.

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