Medicare Savings Program Application: How Do You Apply?
You apply for a Medicare Savings Program through your state Medicaid office, also called your State Medical Assistance office. Ask for the Medicare Savings Program or Medicare premium assistance application, complete it, and submit any documents your state requests. You can also apply for Extra Help with Medicare drug costs at the same time, and Social Security may send information to your state to start an MSP application unless you decline.
Where do you apply for a Medicare Savings Program?
Medicare Savings Programs are run by state Medicaid agencies. That means you generally apply through your state Medicaid office, not through Medicare Advantage plans, Medigap insurers, or private insurance agents.
To start, contact your State Medical Assistance office and ask how to apply for Medicare premium assistance or a Medicare Savings Program. Your state can tell you whether to apply by paper form, phone, online portal, in person, or another state-approved process.
What steps should you follow to apply?
- Find your state Medicaid office. Use the official Medicaid.gov state contact page or call Medicare for help locating the right office.
- Ask for the Medicare Savings Program application. Some states may call it Medicare premium assistance.
- Complete the application carefully. Provide information about your Medicare coverage, income, resources, household situation, and other items your state asks about.
- Submit requested documents. Your state may ask for proof of income, bank accounts, Medicare information, identity, address, or other eligibility details.
- Respond to follow-up requests. If the state needs more information, reply by the deadline listed in the notice.
- Keep copies. Save a copy of your application, documents, confirmation numbers, and notices.
Can you apply for Extra Help at the same time?
Yes. Extra Help is a Medicare program that helps people with limited income and resources pay Medicare Part D drug costs. Medicare says you can apply for Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs at the same time.
If you apply for Extra Help through Social Security, Social Security can send information to your state to start a Medicare Savings Program application unless you tell Social Security not to. Your state still decides whether you qualify for the MSP.
What information may the application ask for?
Application requirements vary by state, but you should be ready to provide information such as:
- Your Medicare number and whether you have Part A, Part B, or both
- Social Security number or other identity information
- Monthly income, such as Social Security, pension, wages, or other payments
- Resources, if your state counts them, such as bank accounts or investments
- Household and marital status information
- Health insurance or Medicaid information, if applicable
Some states have higher resource levels or do not count resources for certain Medicare Savings Programs, so applying can still be worthwhile even if you are unsure whether you qualify.
What happens after you apply?
Your state reviews your application and decides whether you qualify. If approved, a Medicare Savings Program may help pay some Medicare costs. Depending on the program and your circumstances, help may include Part A premiums, Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments.
If you are denied or asked for more information, read the notice carefully. It should explain what happened, what information is missing, or how to appeal if you disagree with the decision.
Are there special rules to know before applying?
Yes. Eligibility rules and application procedures can vary by state, and your state makes the final eligibility decision. The Qualifying Individual, or QI, Program has an important limitation: Medicare says you must apply every year to stay in QI, and states approve QI applications on a first-come, first-served basis with priority for people who received QI benefits the previous year.
If you need help completing an application, your State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP, may be able to provide free, personalized Medicare counseling.
From First Meeting to Medicare Enrollment
We begin by helping you understand how Medicare works and how the different pieces fit together. We walk through Original Medicare, Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement insurance, and Part D prescription drug coverage, including how formularies, drug tiers, and plan rules can affect your costs.
We also explain dental, vision, and hearing coverage, along with other products that may help fill gaps in your healthcare plan. Depending on your needs, that may include short-term in-home healthcare coverage, hospital indemnity insurance, or coverage designed to provide additional financial support following a cancer diagnosis, heart attack, or stroke.
Once you understand the landscape, we move into the planning stage. That is when we review your doctors, hospitals, prescription drugs, current coverage, and other personal details so we can begin evaluating the Medicare plan options that fit your situation.
Official Sources
- Medicare Savings Programs | Medicare
Verifies that Medicare Savings Programs are applied for through the state and may help pay Medicare Part A and Part B costs. - Get help with your Medicare costs Apply for programs that can save you money
Verifies Medicare guidance to call the State Medical Assistance office or fill out an application, and notes that some states have different resource rules. - Help with drug costs | Medicare
Verifies that people can apply for Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs at the same time and that Social Security may send information to the state. - Where Can People Get Help With Medicaid & CHIP? | Medicaid
Provides official state Medicaid office contact information for applying, checking eligibility, and tracking application status. - Where can I find an application to apply for the Medicare Savings Program (MSP)? | Medicaid
Verifies that CMS provides a Medicare Savings Program model application for Medicare premium assistance.
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