How to see if you qualify for Medicare Part B premium assistance
A reader wrote in asking whether any help exists for Medicare Part B premiums, which in 2026 run $202.90 a month. Good question. The programs that exist to cover these costs are among the most underused in the entire Medicare system, because most eligible people have never heard of them.
The sourcing here comes from Medicare.gov’s savings programs page and SSA.gov’s Extra Help documentation.
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Medicare Savings Programs
Four programs, state-run; each one covers a different slice of Medicare costs, including Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. The most comprehensive is QMB, the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program, which, according to Medicare.gov, covers Part B premiums entirely and prevents providers from billing you for Medicare-covered services. Not reduced. Gone. The other three tiers cover progressively less, but even the least comprehensive tier covers the Part B premium, which is what the reader was asking about.
The income numbers that actually matter
For QMB, the most generous program, the individual income limit in 2026 sits around $1,255 a month and the couple limit is around $1,704. Medicare.gov sets the federal floor, but here’s what most people miss: Alaska and Hawaii have higher limits, and many states have set their own thresholds above the federal numbers. Which means you might not qualify federally and still qualify in your state. The only way to know is to check with your state Medicaid office directly, rather than assuming the federal number is the final answer.
What counts as a resource and what doesn’t
Bank accounts count. Stocks count. Certificates of deposit count. Real estate other than your primary home counts. Your house does not. One car does not count either. Personal belongings do not count. A burial fund up to a set limit does not count. SSA.gov flags the part couples consistently get wrong: if you are married and living together, your spouse’s resources are included in the calculation. Many people assume that one partner’s assets are separate. They are not.
How to apply
Not through Medicare. Through your state Medicaid office, your state medical assistance agency or your local social services office. Medicare.gov has state contact information if you need a starting point. One thing worth knowing: if you apply for Extra Help through SSA.gov at the same time, Social Security will automatically forward your information to your state to start a Medicare Savings Program application, unless you specifically ask them not to. The State Health Insurance Assistance Program in your state also offers free one-on-one counseling. Free. No appointment required in most states.
If you get denied
A denial is not permanent. SSA.gov is clear on this: you can reapply any time your income or resources change. Limits adjust annually. Circumstances change. The QI program is approved on a first-come, first-served basis each year, so applying early in the calendar year is the right time if you’re on the fence. And if you think a decision is wrong, you have the right to appeal. The denial notice explains how.
The bottom line
$202.90 a month is $2,434.80 a year. These programs exist to eliminate or reduce that cost for people who qualify, and they are consistently underenrolled. If you are anywhere near those income thresholds, the application takes less time than assuming you don’t qualify.
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