What if I need help paying my Medicare health care costs?

 

 

 

Medicare Savings Programs If you have limited income and resources, you may be able to get help from your state to pay your Medicare costs if you meet certain conditions. There are 4 kinds of Medicare Savings Programs:

 

1. Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program: If you’re eligible, the QMB Program helps pay for Part A and/or Part B premiums. In addition, Medicare providers aren’t allowed to bill you for services and items Medicare covers, including deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. If you get a bill for these charges, tell your provider or the debt collector that you’re in the QMB Program and can’t be charged for Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. If you’ve already made payments on a bill for services and items Medicare covers, you have the right to a refund. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you should also contact the plan to ask them to stop the charges. Note: To make sure your provider knows you’re in the QMB Program, show both your Medicare and Medicaid or QMB card each time you get care. You can also give your provider a copy of your “Medicare Summary Notice” (MSN). Your MSN will show you’re in the QMB Program and shouldn’t be billed. Log into your secure Medicare account online at Medicare.gov any time to sign up to get your MSNs electronically. If your provider won’t stop billing you, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. We can also confirm that you’re in the QMB Program.

 

2. Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) Program: Helps pay Part B premiums only.

 

3. Qualifying Individual (QI) Program: Helps pay Part B premiums only. Funding for QI benefits is limited, and the applications are granted on a first come, first-served basis.

 

4. Qualified Disabled and Working Individuals (QDWI) Program: Helps pay Part A premiums only. You may qualify for this program if you have a disability and are working. If you qualify for a QMB, SLMB, or QI Program, you automatically qualify to get Extra Help paying for Medicare drug coverage (see pages 87–89). The names of these programs and how they work may vary by state. Medicare Savings Programs aren’t available in Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

 

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