Vermont Medicare Savings Programs: help paying the Part B premium

What this program is, in plain English

A Medicare Savings Program has Vermont pay your Medicare Part B premium, which stops that amount being taken out of your Social Security check every month. There are three levels, QMB, SLMB and QI, and QMB also covers Medicare deductibles, coinsurance and copays. Vermont Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) decides these applications in Vermont, not Medicare and not Social Security. Being approved for any of the three also gets you Extra Help with prescription costs automatically. Income and asset limits are set by Vermont and change each year, so call and ask for the current figures before you decide you do not qualify. This site serves people 65 and older, but these programs also cover younger people on Medicare because of a disability.

Who qualifies

• Income limit: The federal limit is 135% of the poverty level — about $1,796 a month for one person, or $2,435 a month for two, under the 2026 guidelines. Some states set higher limits. Confirm with your state at the number below. Posted 2026. Source: Medicare.gov — Medicare Savings Programs Close to the line? Apply anyway — some income doesn't count toward these limits.
• Countable savings and assets under $9,950. The 2026 federal resource limit is $9,950 for one person and $14,910 for a married couple (SSA POMS HI 00815.023). Many states set higher limits, and Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi and Massachusetts apply no asset test at all — so apply even if you think you are over the line. The QI level is paid from a block grant, is first-come first-served, and has to be reapplied for every year. Posted 2026. Source: SSA POMS HI 00815.023 — Medicare Savings Programs resource limits
• Eligibility runs on Medicare Part A entitlement, not age: younger people on Medicare because of a disability qualify too. Income and asset limits vary by state and by QMB, SLMB or QI level; several states have no asset test.

What to have ready

• Photo ID for everyone in the household
• Social Security numbers for everyone applying
• Proof of all income for the last 30 days
• Proof of address, such as a lease or a utility bill
• Your Medicare card
• Your Social Security award letter
• Recent bank statements and any life insurance policies

How to apply

This program is run by Vermont Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA). Processing times vary by state.