3 Medicare Savings Programs That Can Pay Virginians’ Part B Premium
Medicare’s Part B premium went up $17.90 this year, to $202.90 a month.
If you’re a Virginian with limited income and savings, the state could pay it for you.
Here are the Medicare Savings Programs that can pay Virginians’ Part B premium, and who qualifies.
Note: This is general information, not medical or financial advice. Program rules and dollar amounts are subject to change, so confirm the current details with the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS).
Virginia Medicare Savings Program Income Limits for 2026
DMAS sorts Medicare Savings Program applicants into three tiers by monthly income, measured against the federal poverty level.
If you’re single, Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) covers you at up to $1,330 a month, or $1,804 for a couple.
Step up to Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB), and the cutoffs rise to $1,596 for one person and $2,164 for a couple.
Qualifying Individual (QI) tops out at $1,796 and $2,435.
If you’re single with $1,500 a month in counted income, you land in SLMB, not QMB.
A couple with $2,300 a month in counted income falls in QI.
The federal list on Medicare.gov runs $20 higher, with $1,350 for a single QMB applicant.
Some states don’t count certain income, so you may qualify even above those numbers.
Medicare Savings Program Asset Limits in Virginia
Savings count too, and DMAS applies one limit to all three programs: $9,950 for one person and $14,910 for a married couple.
The federal list shows the same savings limits.
Counted savings include money in checking, savings and retirement accounts, plus stocks and bonds.
States don’t count your home, one car, a burial plot or up to $1,500 set aside for burial costs.
The Couple Math on the Savings Limit
Virginia’s Medicare Savings Program limit for a couple is $14,910, which is $4,990 less than two single limits added together.
Two single applicants at $9,950 each could keep $19,900 between them.
Say you and your spouse have $16,000 in counted savings. You’re over the limit, even though each of you has just $8,000.
Which Programs Pay the Part B Premium in Virginia?
The Medicare Part B premium rose $17.90 for 2026, from $185 to $202.90.
Virginia’s Medicaid agency pays that premium for you if you’re enrolled in QMB, SLMB or QI.
The fourth federal program, Qualified Disabled and Working Individual (QDWI), pays only the Part A premium, which is why this guide covers three.
What Does QMB Pay in Virginia?
QMB covers the most of the three programs.
It pays your Part B premium, plus your Part A premium if you don’t have premium-free Part A.
Medicare providers can’t bill you for services and items Medicare covers, including deductibles, coinsurance and copayments.
That includes your yearly Part B deductible.
The one exception is a small Medicaid copayment, if one applies.
Medicare.gov says to show both your Medicare card and your Medicaid card each time you get care.
QMB coverage starts the first of the month after the state processes your application.
Psst! How much do you know about Medicare? Take our quiz and see if you can ace it.
Quiz
Medicare Costs Quiz
Answer these questions on Medicare premiums, deductibles and penalties. We bet you can’t get them all right. Prove us wrong?
Part A is premium-free for many people who paid Medicare taxes while working. Generally, how many years does that take?
What Does SLMB Pay in Virginia?
Medicare.gov lists Part B premiums as the only thing SLMB helps pay for.
You need both Part A and Part B to qualify.
According to DMAS, SLMB coverage starts the month you apply, and it can reach back up to three months if you were eligible then.
Who Qualifies for QI in Virginia?
QI covers the highest incomes of the three, up to $1,796 a month for one person or $2,435 for a couple.
It is only for people who don’t qualify for any other Medicaid coverage.
You have to reapply every year to stay in QI.
Medicare.gov says states approve QI applications first come, first served, with priority for people who got QI the previous year.
Do Medicare Savings Programs Come With Extra Help?
Medicare Savings Program enrollees in Virginia also get Extra Help, the federal program that lowers prescription drug costs.
In 2026, you’ll pay no more than $12.65 for each drug your Medicare drug plan covers.
How Do You Apply for a Medicare Savings Program in Virginia?
You apply for Medicare Savings Programs through CommonHelp, Virginia’s benefits website, and the state decides which program fits you.
If you’d rather talk to a person, Cover Virginia offers help with the application at 1-855-242-8282.
CommonHelp can also help you find your nearest local office.
It’s worth applying even if you don’t think you qualify.
Free help is available too from Virginia’s Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP), which offers confidential Medicare counseling through your local Area Agency on Aging.
DMAS says to report changes that may affect your eligibility, such as an increase or decrease in income, within 10 days.
If you skip a renewal form and your coverage closes, the state stops paying your Medicare premium.
FAQ
These limits go up each year.
Does Virginia Medicaid pay the Medicare Part B premium?
Yes, through QMB, SLMB and QI, if your income and savings stay under the limits.
What is the Virginia Medicare Savings Program income limit for one person?
QMB goes up to $1,330 a month, SLMB to $1,596 and QI to $1,796 in 2026.
Is there an asset limit for Medicare Savings Programs in Virginia?
Yes.
The limit is $9,950 for one person and $14,910 for a married couple.
Do you need both Part A and Part B for a Medicare Savings Program?
SLMB and QI require both. QMB can also help pay a Part A premium if you don’t have premium-free Part A.
Can Virginia’s Medicare Savings Programs pay premiums from before I applied?
QMB and SLMB start on different dates.
SLMB coverage can start up to three months before you apply, if you were eligible then.
QMB coverage starts the first of the month after Virginia processes your application.
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