Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) are a set of federally funded programs administered by each individual state that help pay Medicare costs for people with limited income and savings. These programs can help lower Medicare drug plan costs, premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. There are four main MSPs, each with different benefits and eligibility requirements:

• Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB): Pays for Medicare Parts A and B premiums. If you have QMB, typically you should not be billed for Medicare-covered services when seeing Medicare providers or providers in your Medicare Advantage Plan’s network.

• Specified Low-income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB): Pays for Medicare Part B premium.

• Qualifying Individual (QI) Program: Pays for Medicare Part B premium.

• Qualified Disabled Working Individual (QDWI): Pays for the Medicare Part A premium. To be eligible for QDWI, you must be under age 65, be working but continue to have a disabling impairment.

To qualify for an MSP, you must have Medicare Part A and meet income and asset guidelines, which vary by state. Some states do not count assets when determining MSP eligibility. If you enroll in an MSP, you will also automatically get Extra Help, the federal program that helps pay your Medicare prescription drug (Part D) plan costs.

To apply for an MSP, you should contact your State Medicaid Program or visit the Medicare Benefits page to apply online. Even if you don’t think you qualify, you should still apply.