Need help paying your Medicare Part B premium? Start here
Reader questions keep coming in about Medicare costs, and this one comes up more than almost any other. Is there help available for people who are struggling to cover the monthly Part B premium? The answer is yes, and the programs that provide it are more accessible than most people realize. This article lays out what is available, who qualifies, and where to start.
Part B covers outpatient services, doctor visits, preventive care, and durable medical equipment. The standard 2026 premium is $202.90 a month, up $17.90 from 2025, amounting to more than $2,400 a year and deducted from most Social Security checks. For people on fixed incomes, that is a meaningful expense.
Roughly one in five Medicare enrollees already has that premium paid on their behalf through state and federal assistance programs. Millions more likely qualify and have simply not applied.
What are Medicare Savings Programs?
Medicare Savings Programs, or MSPs, are run by state Medicaid agencies with federal funding. Depending on your income, they can cover your Part B premium entirely, and in some cases also your deductibles and copayments. They are separate from Medicaid but administered through the same state agencies.
The most comprehensive is the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program, which covers premiums, deductibles, and cost-sharing. Providers are federally prohibited from billing QMB enrollees for those amounts, even if they do not accept Medicaid. The SLMB and QI programs cover only the Part B premium. QI funding is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis each year, so applying early matters.
Who qualifies?
Eligibility is based on income and, in most states, assets. Federal income limits for 2026 are roughly $1,350 a month for a single person for QMB, $1,526 for SLMB, and $1,715 for QI. Many states set higher limits than the federal guidelines, and some have eliminated the asset test entirely. Certain types of income, including wages from part-time work, are often not counted in full, so the threshold may be more generous than it appears on paper.
What else comes with enrollment?
Enrolling in any MSP automatically qualifies you for Extra Help, the federal program that reduces Part D prescription drug costs. The Social Security Administration estimates Extra Help’s annual value at roughly $5,700 per beneficiary, so the savings extend well beyond the monthly premium.
How to apply
Applications go through your state’s Medicaid office. You can find your state’s contact information at Medicaid.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE. Your local SHIP counselor offers free, unbiased help navigating the process, reviewing your eligibility, and completing the paperwork. Find your nearest SHIP at shiphelp.org or by calling 1-877-839-2675.
Wrap up
Applying costs nothing and takes relatively little time. The income limits are broader than most people expect, states often have more flexibility than the federal guidelines suggest, and enrollment can save over $2,400 a year on the premium alone before counting drug cost reductions. According to AARP and Medicare advocacy groups, these programs are significantly underused, primarily because people do not know they exist. That is the only gap this article is trying to close.
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