← Back to Blog

Medicare Savings Programs in Arizona (QMB, SLMB, QI): Do You Qualify?

Most people in Tucson don't know it, but the standard Part B premium comes out of your Social Security check every month — $202.90 in 2026, or about $2,435 a year. If your income is modest, Arizona may pay that bill for you. The help is called a Medicare Savings Program, and it is one of the most under-used benefits in Medicare. KFF estimates that only about half to two-thirds of eligible people are enrolled. The most common reason is a simple misunderstanding: people assume their savings or their home disqualify them. In Arizona, they don't.

What are Medicare Savings Programs, and what do QMB, SLMB, and QI each pay?

Medicare Savings Programs are state-run programs that pay some of your Medicare costs if your income is limited. Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) pays your Part B premium plus deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) and Qualifying Individual (QI) pay only your Part B premium.

QMB also pays your Part A premium if you owe one, which most people do not. A fourth program, Qualified Disabled and Working Individual (QDWI), pays only the Part A premium for certain people with disabilities who went back to work. It is rare, so this guide focuses on the three most people ask about.

In Arizona, these programs are run by AHCCCS, the state's Medicaid agency. You are not choosing a plan or paying a premium. You are asking the state to pay costs you would otherwise owe. For how Part B works on its own, see our Original Medicare guide.

What are the 2026 income limits for QMB, SLMB, and QI in Arizona?

Arizona sets QMB at 100% of the federal poverty level, SLMB above that up to 120%, and QI above that up to 135%. For 2026, Medicare.gov lists monthly income limits of $1,350, $1,616, and $1,816 for one person, and $1,824, $2,184, and $2,455 for a married couple.

• QMB: up to $1,350 a month (single) or $1,824 (married couple).
• SLMB: up to $1,616 a month (single) or $2,184 (married couple).
• QI: up to $1,816 a month (single) or $2,455 (married couple).

These are the federal figures Medicare.gov publishes. They update every year, usually in the spring, so check the current numbers before you rely on them. Social Security counts as income, and the amount counted is generally your full benefit before the Part B premium is taken out. AHCCCS makes the final call on what counts.

One more point from Medicare.gov: you may still qualify even if your income is above these limits, because states have some discretion in how they count certain income. If you are close, apply anyway. The worst outcome is a denial letter.

Does Arizona count my savings, home, or car?

No asset limit applies. As of January 2026, Medicare Interactive from the Medicare Rights Center lists Arizona among the states with no asset limit for Medicare Savings Programs. The federal resource limits on Medicare.gov, $9,950 for one person and $14,910 for a couple, do not apply here. Only income decides, but confirm with AHCCCS.

This is the biggest reason Tucson retirees miss out. Someone with a paid-off home, a car, and a few thousand dollars in the bank assumes they are "too well off." In a state with an asset test, they might be. In Arizona, a modest income is the main test. If you have been told no in another state, or years ago, it is worth asking again.

What do I get besides help with Part B — Extra Help and billing protection?

Anyone approved for QMB, SLMB, or QI automatically qualifies for Extra Help, the federal program that lowers Part D drug costs. QMB members also cannot be billed by providers for Medicare-covered services. Together, that can mean no Part B premium, lower drug copays, and no surprise bills for covered care.

Medicare.gov says that with Extra Help you pay no more than $12.65 for each covered drug in 2026. The program also changes how you should shop for drug coverage. Our guide to choosing a Part D plan in Tucson explains Extra Help in more depth and what to look for in a formulary, and our Part D out-of-pocket cap guide covers the yearly limit that applies to everyone.

On billing protection, the rule is that a QMB member should not be billed for Medicare-covered services. If a Tucson clinic or hospital sends you a bill anyway, do not pay it right away. Call 1-800-MEDICARE or your local SHIP counselor first. Network rules still apply if you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, so it helps to know which Tucson hospital systems are in your plan's network.

How do I apply in Pima County, and when does the help start?

You apply through AHCCCS, Arizona's Medicaid agency, not through Medicare or Social Security. Use its online application or call its toll-free line at 1-800-654-8713. QMB help generally starts after approval with no back payment, while SLMB and QI can reimburse up to three months of past Part B premiums.

Because SLMB and QI can pay back premiums, applying sooner can mean money back. QMB does not work that way, so waiting costs you each month you wait. Expect to share proof of income, such as your Social Security award letter, and identification. AHCCCS may ask for more documents, so answer quickly. Medicare.gov also notes that QI requires you to apply every year to stay in the program.

You can get free, unbiased help from the Pima Council on Aging, Pima County's local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Call (520) 546-2011. We are an independent Medicare agency, not part of AHCCCS, and we cannot approve or deny these programs. We are glad to point you in the right direction.

How do these programs change which Medicare plan I should pick?

They can change the math. If you have QMB, a Medigap policy may duplicate cost-sharing the state already pays, while a Medicare Advantage or Special Needs Plan may fit better. Whatever you qualify for, compare plans before you buy, and ask a licensed agent or SHIP counselor before dropping any coverage.

Be careful with timing. Dropping a Medigap policy is easy to do and hard to undo, because getting one back later usually means health questions. Our post on Medigap guaranteed issue rights in Arizona explains when you can return without underwriting, and our Medicare Supplement page shows how Medigap works.

Some Special Needs Plans accept people with only a Medicare Savings Program, and others require full Medicaid. Ask which group you fall into before assuming a plan fits. Our guide to Medicare plans in Pima County introduces Special Needs Plans, and our Medicare Advantage & Part D page explains the basics. If you are in the fall window, our Annual Enrollment Period guide covers what you can change from October 15 to December 7.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my Social Security check go up if I qualify?

Usually, yes. Once the state starts paying your Part B premium, it is no longer taken out of your benefit, so your deposit rises by the standard premium amount. It can take a month or two for the change to show up.

Do I have to give up my doctors or my plan to get a Medicare Savings Program?

No. A Medicare Savings Program is not a health plan. You keep Original Medicare or your Medicare Advantage plan and your doctors. The state simply pays certain costs on your behalf. Just keep your Medicare card and use it as you do now.

What if my income is slightly over the limit?

Apply anyway. Medicare.gov says you may still qualify with income above the listed limits because states count some income differently. If you are denied, ask AHCCCS why, and check again whenever your income or household changes.