Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB): What Is It and Who Qualifies?

What is the SLMB program?

SLMB stands for Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary. It is one of the Medicare Savings Programs, which are Medicaid-run programs that help people with Medicare pay certain Medicare costs.

SLMB is narrower than some other Medicare Savings Programs. Its main benefit is payment of your Medicare Part B premium. Part B is the part of Original Medicare that helps cover doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, and other medical services.

Who qualifies for SLMB?

To qualify for SLMB, you generally must:

• Be entitled to Medicare Part A.
• Have income that fits the SLMB category under your state’s rules.
• Meet your state’s resource rules, if your state uses a resource test.
• Apply through your state Medicaid agency and be approved.

Federal guidance describes SLMB as for people with income above 100% but less than 120% of the federal poverty level. In practical terms, if your income is low enough for QMB, your state may place you in QMB instead because QMB pays more Medicare costs.

What are the 2026 SLMB income and resource limits?

For 2026, the federal SLMB limits used in most states and the District of Columbia are:

• Individual: monthly income limit of $1,616 and resource limit of $9,950.
• Married couple: monthly income limit of $2,184 and resource limit of $14,910.

These limits do not apply the same way in every situation. Alaska and Hawaii use different poverty guideline amounts. Some states use higher income or resource standards, and some states do not count resources for certain Medicare Savings Programs. If your income or savings are close to the limit, it is usually still worth applying because not all income or resources may count under state rules.

What does SLMB pay for?

SLMB helps pay your Medicare Part B premium. In 2026, the standard Medicare Part B monthly premium is $202.90 for most people.

SLMB generally does not pay Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments. Those broader protections are associated with the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary, or QMB, program. If you qualify for SLMB, Medicare.gov also says you get Extra Help with Medicare drug costs.

How is SLMB different from QMB and QI?

SLMB is one Medicare Savings Program, but it is not the only one. The main differences are:

• QMB: generally helps pay Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments for Medicare-covered services.
• SLMB: helps pay the Part B premium only.
• QI: also helps pay the Part B premium, but it is for a higher income range than SLMB and has separate program rules.

Your state Medicaid agency decides which category you qualify for based on your Medicare status, income, resources, and state rules.

How do you apply for SLMB?

You apply through your state Medicaid office, not through a private insurance company. Medicare.gov directs people to apply for Medicare Savings Programs through their state.

When you apply, your state may ask for information about your Medicare coverage, income, bank accounts, and other resources. Because state rules can be more generous than the federal baseline, you should not assume you are ineligible just because your income or savings are slightly above a listed number.

Official Sources