You qualify for the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program in 2026 if you are entitled to Medicare Part A, your monthly income is at or below $1,350 for an individual or $1,824 for a married couple, and your countable resources are under $9,950 or $14,910 respectively.1Medicare. Medicare Savings Programs Those three tests — Medicare Part A entitlement, income, and resources — are the whole eligibility picture at the federal level, though several details change the math in ways that help more people qualify than the raw numbers suggest.
The 2026 Income Limits
QMB income eligibility is tied to 100% of the Federal Poverty Level. The monthly limits for 2026, which already include a standard $20 income disregard, are $1,350 for an individual and $1,824 for a married couple.1Medicare. Medicare Savings Programs
Income for QMB purposes includes Social Security benefits, pensions, annuities, and wages. The $20 general exclusion, drawn from the SSI methodology that states use for QMB, means your first $20 of monthly income doesn’t count toward the limit.2SSA. Medicare Savings Programs Income and Resource Limits
Some income is excluded entirely. SNAP benefits, energy assistance, and most in-kind support do not count.1Medicare. Medicare Savings Programs
If You Still Work
Earned income is counted more generously. The first $65 of monthly earnings is excluded, and only half of what remains counts. Someone earning $500 a month from a part-time job would have just $217.50 counted: $500 minus $65 is $435, and half of that is $217.50.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 USC 1396d – Definitions The practical effect is that working seniors can have gross earnings well above the QMB income cap and still qualify once the exclusions are applied.
The 2026 Resource Limits
Your countable resources must fall within these 2026 limits:
- Individual: $9,950
- Married couple: $14,910
Countable resources include bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and other assets you could convert to cash. The threshold matches the one used for the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy and rises each year.1Medicare. Medicare Savings Programs
Several major assets don’t count at all. Your primary home is excluded regardless of value. So is one vehicle, along with personal belongings, household goods, and burial plots. Life insurance policies with a combined face value of $1,500 or less are also excluded. A small number of states have eliminated the resource test for QMB entirely, so if your savings are above the federal figures it’s still worth checking your state’s rules.
The Medicare Part A Requirement
You must be entitled to Medicare Part A (hospital insurance). Federal law defines a qualified Medicare beneficiary as someone entitled to Part A whose income does not exceed 100% of the federal poverty line and whose resources fall within the applicable limit.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 USC 1396d – Definitions
Most people get Part A premium-free at 65 based on their own or a spouse’s work history. If you don’t have enough work credits and would normally have to pay for Part A, there’s still a path: you can conditionally enroll in Part A and then apply for QMB, which will cover that premium. In 2026 the Part A premium runs $311 or $565 per month depending on how many work credits you have, so this route is worth serious attention.4Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles
State Variations to Check Before You Rule Yourself Out
The federal figures are a floor, not a ceiling. States can and do set higher limits. Alaska and Hawaii use higher poverty guidelines, which raises their income thresholds automatically. Some states disregard additional types of income, such as dividends or interest. A few states have dropped the resource test for QMB altogether.1Medicare. Medicare Savings Programs
If a quick look at the federal numbers suggests you’re just over, don’t stop there. Contact your state Medicaid agency and ask what income and resource rules actually apply where you live.
If Your Income Is a Little Too High
Missing QMB’s income cap by a few hundred dollars doesn’t lock you out of help with Medicare costs. Two other Medicare Savings Programs use the same resource limits ($9,950 individual / $14,910 couple in 2026) but reach higher up the income scale:2SSA. Medicare Savings Programs Income and Resource Limits
- SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary): monthly income between $1,350 and $1,616 (individual) or $1,824 and $2,184 (couple)
- QI (Qualifying Individual): monthly income between $1,616 and $1,816 (individual) or $2,184 and $2,455 (couple)
SLMB and QI pay your Part B premium, currently $202.90 a month, but they do not cover Medicare deductibles or coinsurance the way QMB does. You apply for all three programs through the same state Medicaid application, and the state determines which one you fit.1Medicare. Medicare Savings Programs
How to Confirm Eligibility and Apply
QMB applications go through your state Medicaid agency, not through Medicare or Social Security. Contact your state’s Medicaid office or local Department of Social Services to request an application; many states accept them online, by mail, by phone, or in person. You’ll generally need:
- Your Medicare card or Medicare number
- Proof of income (Social Security award letter, pay stubs, pension statements, or tax returns)
- Bank and investment account statements
- Proof of state residency
- A government-issued ID and Social Security number
States typically have 45 to 90 days to process the application. QMB coverage begins the first day of the month after the month your state has everything it needs to determine you qualify, and unlike regular Medicaid it cannot be applied retroactively.5Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Program Overview and Policy – Chapter 1 Every month you wait is a month of premiums and cost-sharing you pay out of pocket.
If the paperwork feels like a lot, the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free one-on-one counseling in every state and can walk you through the documentation. Call 1-877-839-2675 to find your local office.6Administration for Community Living. State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)