SLMB stands for Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary, and it’s a government program that pays your Medicare Part B premium if your income falls below a certain threshold. The standard Part B premium is over $180 per month, so SLMB saves qualifying individuals roughly $2,200 a year. It’s one of four Medicare Savings Programs run by state Medicaid agencies, and it’s specifically designed for people whose income is too high for the most generous program (QMB) but still low enough to need help with costs.
What SLMB Covers
SLMB covers one thing: your monthly Medicare Part B premium. Part B is the portion of Medicare that pays for doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, and medical equipment. Unlike the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program, SLMB does not cover deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance. You’re still responsible for those out-of-pocket costs when you receive care.
To qualify for SLMB, you must already have both Medicare Part A and Part B. If you only have Part A, you’ll need to enroll in Part B before (or as part of) your SLMB application.
One additional benefit worth knowing: enrolling in SLMB automatically qualifies you for Extra Help, the federal program that lowers your prescription drug costs under Medicare Part D. Extra Help can save you thousands of dollars a year on medications, so SLMB’s value extends well beyond the Part B premium itself.
Income and Resource Limits for 2026
Eligibility is based on both your monthly income and your countable resources (savings, investments, and similar assets). For 2026, the federal limits are:
- Individual: up to $1,616 per month in income and $9,950 in resources
- Married couple: up to $2,184 per month in income and $14,910 in resources
These limits are slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii. Some states also set their own thresholds above the federal minimums, so you may qualify even if your income or resources exceed the numbers listed here. It’s worth applying in your state rather than assuming you don’t qualify based on federal figures alone.
Resources generally include bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and cash. Your home, one car, burial plots, and certain other personal property typically do not count toward the resource limit.
How SLMB Compares to QMB
The QMB program is the most comprehensive Medicare Savings Program. It covers Part B premiums, Part A premiums (if you don’t get premium-free Part A), and all deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments for Medicare-covered services. QMB also comes with billing protections: providers are not allowed to bill you for any cost-sharing on Medicare-covered items.
The trade-off is that QMB has a lower income limit. For 2026, an individual must earn no more than $1,350 per month to qualify for QMB, compared to $1,616 for SLMB. The resource limits are the same for both programs at $9,950 for an individual and $14,910 for a couple. So SLMB essentially fills the gap for people who earn too much for QMB but still struggle to afford their Part B premium.
How to Apply
SLMB is administered by your state’s Medicaid agency, not by Medicare directly. You apply through your local Medicaid office, and the process varies somewhat by state. Most states allow you to apply online, by mail, by phone, or in person. You can contact your state Medicaid office or call 1-800-MEDICARE to find out exactly where to apply in your area.
You’ll generally need to provide proof of income (such as Social Security benefit statements or pay stubs), proof of resources (bank statements, investment account records), and your Medicare card or Medicare number. Processing times vary, but many states make a determination within 45 days.
Retroactive Reimbursement
If you’re approved for SLMB, you may be reimbursed for up to three months of Part B premiums you already paid before your coverage start date. This retroactive benefit can even reach back into the previous calendar year. For example, if you applied in late 2024 and were approved starting in February 2025, you could be reimbursed for premiums paid in November 2024, December 2024, and January 2025. This is a meaningful detail, because many people don’t realize they can recover money they’ve already spent while their application was pending.