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Medicare and health costs

Medicare Savings Programs in North Carolina

North Carolina calls its Medicare Savings Programs Medicare Qualified Beneficiary (MQB) coverage.

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From the NC Medicaid (North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services)
An older woman in her kitchen reads a letter from the day's mail

MQB-Q pays your Medicare premiums, deductibles and coinsurance; MQB-B and MQB-E pay your Part B premium. North Carolina uses the federal income and savings limits, and you apply through NC Medicaid online with ePASS or at your county Department of Social Services.

How to apply in North Carolina

In person
At your county Department of Social Services (DSS). Walk-ins are welcome, or you can call to set up an in-person or phone interview. You can also apply over the phone by calling your county DSS.
By mail
Print and fill out the Medicaid application (DHB-5200) and mail, email, fax or drop it off at your county DSS.

Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.

Apply on the official site

Who may qualify in North Carolina

Who may qualify for Medicare Qualified Beneficiaries (MQB)
2026 figuresOne personMarried couple
MQB-Q (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)
MQB-B (SLMB) income limit$1,596 a month (after the first $20 of income is set aside)$2,164 a month (after the first $20 of income is set aside)
MQB-E (QI) income limit$1,796 a month (after the first $20 of income is set aside)$2,435 a month (after the first $20 of income is set aside)
Savings limit$9,950$14,910

Source: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (source 1)

What you may get

What Medicare Qualified Beneficiaries (MQB) pays
What MQB-Q paysYour Medicare Part A and B premiums, deductibles and coinsurance for Medicare-covered care
What MQB-B paysYour Part B premium
What MQB-E paysYour Part B premium (limited to available funds)

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

Good to know

  • North Carolina's chart lists the poverty-level amounts. The first $20 of monthly income isn't counted, so the $1,330 MQB-Q limit lines up with the federal $1,350 (and the same for the other limits).
  • On the online application, NC Medicaid is called "Medical Assistance."

Sources: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (source 3), NC Medicaid, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (source 4)

Free help

Free help with this in North Carolina

More help in North Carolina

Medicare Savings Programs in another state

Sources

  1. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Basic Medicaid Eligibility Requirements (revised 4/1/2026) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
  2. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, MA-2130 Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries - Q (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
  3. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, MA-2260 Financial Eligibility Regulations-PLA (revised 12/10/2025) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
  4. NC Medicaid, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, How To Apply for NC Medicaid (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.

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