SLMB, or the Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary program, covers one thing: your Medicare Part B premium. That’s it. The program is a type of Medicare Savings Program run through your state’s Medicaid office, and its sole purpose is to pay the monthly Part B premium on your behalf. In 2025, that premium is $185 per month for most people, saving you over $2,200 a year.
What SLMB Pays For
SLMB pays your Medicare Part B monthly premium directly. Part B is the portion of Medicare that covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, lab tests, and medical equipment. Without help, you’d pay this premium out of your Social Security check or out of pocket every month. With SLMB, your state Medicaid program picks up that cost for you.
You are still responsible for your Medicare deductibles and coinsurance. That means if you see a doctor or get outpatient treatment, the usual 20% coinsurance and annual Part B deductible still apply. SLMB does not cover those costs.
How SLMB Differs From QMB
SLMB is often confused with the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program because both are Medicare Savings Programs. The difference is significant. QMB covers far more: it pays your Part B premium, your Part A premium (if you have one), and all Medicare deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. Providers who accept Medicare cannot bill QMB members for cost-sharing at all.
SLMB only covers the Part B premium. If you qualify for SLMB but not QMB, you’ll still face out-of-pocket costs every time you use Medicare services. The reason the programs differ comes down to income. QMB has a lower income threshold (100% of the federal poverty level), while SLMB covers people with slightly higher incomes, up to 120% of the federal poverty level.
Automatic Prescription Drug Savings
One benefit many SLMB recipients don’t realize they’re getting: automatic enrollment in Medicare’s Extra Help program for prescription drugs. If you’re in any Medicare Savings Program, including SLMB, you qualify for Extra Help with Part D costs without needing to apply separately.
Extra Help eliminates your Part D plan premium and deductible entirely. For each prescription you fill at a participating pharmacy, you pay no more than $5.10 for generics and $12.65 for brand-name drugs (2026 figures). Once your total drug spending reaches $2,100 in a year, you pay nothing for covered medications for the rest of the year. For people taking multiple prescriptions, this can save thousands of dollars annually on top of the Part B premium savings.
Income and Asset Limits
To qualify for SLMB, your monthly income must fall below 120% of the federal poverty level (plus a $20 general income disregard). For 2026, those limits are $1,616 per month for an individual and $2,184 per month for a couple in most states. Alaska and Hawaii have higher thresholds: $2,015/$2,725 and $1,856/$2,509 respectively. These numbers adjust each year with updated poverty guidelines.
Most states also apply a resource limit. For 2026, countable assets must be below $9,950 for an individual or $14,910 for a couple. Countable resources typically include bank accounts, stocks, and bonds, but not your home, one car, burial funds, or personal belongings. Some states have eliminated the asset test altogether. California dropped its asset test for SLMB in January 2024, meaning residents there qualify based on income alone. Your state may have different rules, so it’s worth checking locally.
How to Apply
SLMB is administered by your state Medicaid agency, not by Medicare or Social Security. You apply through your state’s Medicaid office, and most states offer several options: an online application through the state Medicaid portal, a paper application you can mail or fax, a phone application through Medicaid customer service, or an in-person visit to a local Medicaid office. You’ll need to provide proof of income, assets, and Medicare enrollment.
If you’re already enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B and meet the income and resource limits, you can apply at any time. There’s no open enrollment window. Once approved, your state begins paying your Part B premium directly, and you should see the deduction disappear from your Social Security check within one to two billing cycles. Social Security also identifies some people who may qualify and sends them information, but you shouldn’t wait for that notice if you think you’re eligible.
What SLMB Does Not Cover
SLMB is not a full Medicaid benefit. It does not give you a Medicaid card to use at doctors’ offices or hospitals. It does not cover dental, vision, hearing, or long-term care. It does not pay for Medicare Part A premiums, Part A or Part B deductibles, or any coinsurance or copays when you receive medical services. Those costs remain your responsibility unless you qualify for a separate program like QMB or full Medicaid.
If your income drops below 100% of the federal poverty level, you may become eligible for QMB instead, which would cover those additional costs. Your state Medicaid office should evaluate you for all Medicare Savings Programs when you apply, placing you in whichever program matches your financial situation.