Medicare Savings Programs California 2026: QMB/SLMB/QI

If you have Medicare in California and need help with its costs, ask your county to screen you for a Medicare Savings Program (MSP). Apply through BenefitsCal or the county, even if you do not have full Medi-Cal. If you only want an MSP, you can send the MC 14A application to your county MSP contact. An MSP is help paying Medicare expenses; approval does not necessarily give you full Medi-Cal health coverage.

The standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026. All three programs below can pay it. QMB also protects you from billing for Medicare-covered deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. The right comparison is the type of help you need and the income the county counts, not your savings alone.

Who these programs are for

Medicare Savings Programs are built for people who already have Medicare but struggle to cover its costs. That's mainly two groups:

• Seniors 65 and older living on Social Security, a small pension, or limited savings.
• People under 65 with a disability who qualified for Medicare through Social Security Disability.

If Medicare's premiums, deductibles, or the 20% you owe after Part B feel like a stretch, you're the person this is for. You don't need to already be on Medi-Cal. The MSP is often the first Medi-Cal door a senior walks through.

QMB, SLMB, QI: what each one pays

The three programs differ in two ways: how much income you can have, and how much of your Medicare bill they cover. More income means a program that pays less.

• QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) is the most generous. It pays your Medicare Part A and Part B premiums, your deductibles, and your coinsurance and copays. Providers cannot bill a QMB member for those cost-sharing charges on Medicare-covered services, even if the provider does not accept Medi-Cal. QMB does not make every non-covered service free. It has the lowest income limit.
• SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary) pays your Part B premium only ($202.90 a month in 2026). It does not cover deductibles or copays. The income limit is a step higher than QMB.
• QI (Qualifying Individual) also pays your Part B premium only, with the highest income limit of the three. One catch: QI requires an application each year, has limited funding, and gives priority to people who had QI the previous year. You cannot receive QI together with full Medi-Cal. Apply when you need help rather than waiting for January.

All three also trigger Extra Help. Getting any of these programs automatically enrolls you in the Part D Low-Income Subsidy (Extra Help), which slashes what you pay for prescription drugs. That alone is worth applying for.

2026 income limits (California)

These are the 2026 monthly countable-income standards used in California. Countable income is what remains after allowed exclusions; it is not necessarily your gross pay, take-home pay, or the Social Security deposit after Medicare deductions. QMB uses 100% of the federal poverty level, SLMB uses 120%, and QI uses 135%.

Program	Single countable income	Couple countable income	What it pays
ProgramQMB	Single countable income$1,330	Couple countable income$1,804	What it paysPremiums + deductibles + copays
ProgramSLMB	Single countable income$1,596	Couple countable income$2,165	What it paysPart B premium only
ProgramQI	Single countable income$1,796	Couple countable income$2,436	What it paysPart B premium only

The county generally excludes the first $20 of income and applies additional earned-income exclusions. For example, a single person with $1,816 in monthly Social Security income and no other income could have $1,796 counted after that $20 exclusion. Do not subtract $20 again from the table’s countable-income standard. If you are near a limit, have wages, or support a child at home, ask the county for the actual calculation. The printed MC 14A form contains older dollar examples; use current eligibility standards when reviewing it.

The 2026 asset limit (this is new)

For two years, California counted only your income, not your savings. That ended. As of January 1, 2026, an asset limit is back for Medi-Cal programs including MSPs:

• $130,000 in countable assets for one person.
• +$65,000 for each additional qualifying household member, up to a household of ten; a couple’s ordinary limit is $195,000.

Countable assets include cash, bank accounts and non-exempt property. Your main home and one vehicle are generally excluded. New applicants face the current test; people enrolled before 2026 are checked at their 2026 renewal. Rules can differ when a spouse needs long-term care. The Medi-Cal guide explains which California coverage categories use an asset test.

How to apply

Medicare Savings Programs run through Medi-Cal, and California's 58 counties handle the applications. There's no separate Medicare line for this:

1. Apply online at BenefitsCal.com, California's official benefits site. When it asks what you want, choose Medi-Cal; the MSP is screened as part of that application. You can also apply by phone or in person at your county MSP office.
2. Get your numbers ready. You'll report your monthly income (Social Security, pension, wages) and your countable assets. Have your Medicare card handy.
3. Keep your filing confirmation and proof requests. Tell the worker you want Medicare premium assistance. If you need SLMB or QI help for earlier eligible months, ask about up to three months of retroactive coverage. QMB does not provide that ordinary retroactive coverage.
4. Check the written decision and coverage dates. Your Notice of Action should identify the approved program and effective month. QMB generally begins the month after the county determines eligibility; special Part A enrollment cases can differ. County approval and the federal change to premium withholding are separate steps. Keep checking your Social Security payment or Medicare bill until the premium payment has been processed.

For free help comparing coverage or resolving an application problem, find your HICAP Medicare counselor or call 1-800-434-0222.

Quick answers

What's the difference between QMB, SLMB, and QI?
QMB pays the most (premiums, deductibles, and copays) and has the lowest income limit. SLMB and QI pay your Part B premium only and allow more income. QI has the highest limit but capped funding.

Will an MSP raise my Social Security check?
If you currently pay Part B through Social Security withholding, an approved state premium payment can increase your deposit once federal records are updated. It is not immediate upon applying or receiving county approval. If you pay Medicare directly, check the bill instead.

Does the new 2026 asset limit disqualify me?
It depends on your countable property. The ordinary limit is $130,000 for one person or $195,000 for a couple, with exclusions such as the main home and one vehicle. Ask for the county’s property calculation if you are denied.

Do I have to be on Medi-Cal already?
No. You apply for the MSP through Medi-Cal, but you don't need full Medi-Cal first. Many people get only the MSP.

If approval has not changed your bill or payment

If Part B premiums are still being withheld for an approved coverage month, contact your county eligibility worker with the Notice of Action and payment or billing record. Ask the worker to check the state’s Medicare premium-payment enrollment and any refund for covered months. Do not stop paying a Medicare bill on the assumption that the application has been approved.

If a provider bills you for Medicare cost-sharing while QMB coverage was active, show your Medicare card and Medi-Cal/QMB proof and ask billing staff to correct the charge. If it remains unresolved, call 1-800-MEDICARE or HICAP. For an eligibility denial or reduction, read the Notice of Action and request a State Fair Hearing by the stated deadline; an earlier deadline may apply if you want existing help to continue.