Medicare Savings & Extra Help
If you have limited income and resources, there are programs that may help pay your Medicare premiums, deductibles, and drug costs. Many people who qualify never apply — it's worth checking.
Key points
- Medicare Savings Programs are run by your state and may help pay Part A and Part B costs.
- Extra Help is a federal program that lowers prescription drug costs.
- Eligibility limits change each year, so it's worth checking even if you didn't qualify before.
Learn more
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Medicare Savings Programs are run by state Medicaid agencies and help pay some Medicare costs. There are four programs:
- Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB): helps pay Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copays.
- Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB): helps pay Part B premiums.
- Qualifying Individual (QI): helps pay Part B premiums; funding is first-come, first-served and you must apply each year.
- Qualified Disabled and Working Individuals (QDWI): helps pay the Part A premium for certain people under 65 with disabilities who are working.
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Frequently asked questions
Sources from Medicare.gov
The facts on this page come from official Medicare.gov information. Rules, premiums, deductibles, and income limits can change every year — check these pages for the current details.
- Medicare Savings Programs (income limits updated yearly) (opens Medicare.gov in a new tab)
- Extra Help with drug costs (opens Medicare.gov in a new tab)
- Medicaid (opens Medicare.gov in a new tab)
- Special Needs Plans (including D-SNPs) (opens Medicare.gov in a new tab)
You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048).
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We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
To send a complaint to Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week. If your complaint involves a broker or agent, be sure to include the name of the person when filing your grievance.
This website is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. The information on this page is general education, not advice about a specific plan.