There are three distinct things here and they are frequently confused: full Medicaid, the four Medicare Savings Programs run by the state, and Extra Help for Part D run federally. You can hold more than one. This guide sets out who each is for and what the 2026 limits are.
The four Medicare Savings Programs
These are run by your state and you apply through the state, not through Medicare. Even if you think your income is too high, applying is worth it: some states disregard certain income or resources, and the published federal figures are a floor rather than a ceiling.
| Programme | Helps pay | Monthly income — individual / couple | Resources — individual / couple |
|---|---|---|---|
| QMB | Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance and copayments | $1,350 / $1,824 | $9,950 / $14,910 |
| SLMB | Part B premiums only | $1,616 / $2,184 | $9,950 / $14,910 |
| QI | Part B premiums only | $1,816 / $2,455 | $9,950 / $14,910 |
| QDWI | Part A premiums only | $5,405 / $7,299 | $4,000 / $6,000 |
Source: Medicare.gov, Medicare Savings Programs. Limits are slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii. QI must be applied for every year and is approved first-come, first-served.
QMB is the strongest of the four: providers are not allowed to bill a QMB beneficiary for Medicare-covered deductibles, coinsurance or copayments at all. If you are in QMB and receive such a bill, it is an error.
Extra Help for drug costs
Extra Help pays Part D premiums, deductibles and coinsurance for people with limited income and resources. In 2026 the limits are $23,940 of income and $18,090 of resources for an individual, and $32,460 and $36,100 for a married couple living together. Medicare states plainly that these limits may go up each year.
You get Extra Help automatically if you have full Medicaid, if a Medicare Savings Program pays your Part B premium, or if you receive Supplemental Security Income. Otherwise you apply — and you can apply for Extra Help and a Medicare Savings Program at the same time.
Two consequences people miss: you do not pay a Part D late enrollment penalty while you have Extra Help, and if you qualify through QMB, SLMB or QI you pay no more than $12.65 in 2026 for each drug your plan covers.
Having Medicare and Medicaid together
You can hold both. People who do are called dual eligible, and Medicaid can cover costs Medicare does not, including some long-term care. In Florida, eligibility for full Medicaid as an adult is narrower than in states that expanded it, which is why the Medicare Savings Programs matter so much here: they reach households that full Medicaid does not.
Being dual eligible also opens the door to a Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan, a kind of Medicare Advantage plan built for this group, which coordinates both programmes in one place.
How to apply, and why people do not
Medicare Savings Programs are applied for through the state. Extra Help is applied for through Social Security, and applying for Extra Help will normally start a Medicare Savings Program application with your state as well unless you opt out on the form.
The main reason these go unclaimed is that people rule themselves out on the income test without checking the resource rules, or assume that owning a home or a car disqualifies them. Neither assumption is reliable. If you are anywhere near the figures above, apply and let the state make the determination.
Also on this site
Dated coverage of this topic, where the figures move year to year:
Frequently asked questions
What are the Extra Help limits for 2026?
An individual qualifies with income up to $23,940 and resources up to $18,090. For a married couple living together the figures are $32,460 and $36,100. Medicare notes that these limits may go up each year.
Can I have Medicare and Medicaid at the same time?
Yes. People who qualify for both are described as dual eligible, and Medicaid can pay for costs Medicare does not cover, including some long-term care. Dual eligibility also makes you eligible for a Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan.
Do these programmes protect me from late enrollment penalties?
Partly, and it is rarely mentioned. You generally will not pay a Part B late enrollment penalty if you enroll in a Medicare Savings Program, and you do not pay a Part D penalty while you are getting Extra Help.
My income is slightly above the limit. Should I still apply?
Yes. Some states disregard certain types or amounts of income and resources, so the published federal figures are not the final word. Medicare’s own guidance is that you may qualify in your state even if your income or resources are higher than the federal limits.
Sources
- Medicare Savings Programs — Medicare.gov · read 2026-10-19
- Help with drug costs — Medicare.gov · read 2026-10-19
- Medicaid — Medicare.gov · read 2026-10-19
- Medicaid eligibility — Medicaid.gov · read 2026-10-19
This guide explains published rules and figures, with the source for each one. It is not advice about your own situation.