Medicaid SLMB Program (Specified Low-income Medicare Beneficiary)

• by Christian Worstell
• September 1, 2023

Medicare beneficiaries with limited income and resources may be able to enroll in a Medicare Savings Program (MSP) to help offset the cost of some of Medicare’s out-of-pocket expenses. These programs are designed for individuals and married couples who qualify for Medicare, many of whom may also qualify for Medicaid.  

One of these Medicare Savings Programs is called SLMB, or Specified Low-income Medicare Beneficiary, which we’ll review below. 

What does SLMB pay for?

SLMB benefits cover the cost of the monthly Medicare Part B premium. The standard Part B premium in 2023 is $164.90 per month and is required of all Medicare Part B beneficiaries. 

If a Medicare beneficiary also qualifies for full Medicaid benefits, they may enroll in SLMB+ (or “SLMB Plus”). SLMB+ pays for both the Medicare Part B premium and all Medicaid covered services.

Qualifying for SLMB also makes you eligible for the Medicare Part D Extra Help program, which helps pay for Medicare Part D drug costs such as premiums, copayments and coverage gaps.   

What are the SLMB income limits in 2023?

Each state Medicaid program has its own rules concerning qualification.

One standard model used for SLMB eligibility is if you have countable assets at or below two times the standard allowed by the Supplemental Social Security program and an annual income of no more than 120% of the Federal Poverty Level. 

For 2023, that breaks down to:

• Individuals = $1,478 per month in income; $9,090 in assets
• Married couples = $1,992 in monthly income; $13,630in assets  

The income and asset limits may change each year. According to Medicare.gov, you should still apply for SLMB benefits if your income and resources are slightly higher than what’s listed above.

Assets include:

• Money in checking or savings accounts
• Stocks
• Bonds
• Mutual funds

Countable assets do not include:

• A primary home
• A single vehicle
• Furniture
• Other personal items

What other Medicare Savings Programs are there?

SLMB is just one of the available Medicare Savings Programs. Others include:

• QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) – Pays for Medicare Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, copayments and coinsurance
  
  
• QI (Qualifying Individual) – Pays for Medicare Part B premiums
  
  
• QDWI (Qualified Disabled and Working Individuals) – Pays for Medicare Part A premiums

How do you apply for SLMB?

Contact your state Medicaid program for information and assistance with applying for the SLMB program.

Is there Medicaid assistance for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries?

Individuals who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid are considered “dual eligible” and may qualify for a certain type of Medicare Advantage plan called a Special Needs Plan. And one particular type of Special Needs Plan is a Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP). 

These plans are designed to meet the specific needs of those with limited income and resources. 

Dual-eligible Special Needs Plans and other Medicare Advantage plans are sold by private insurance companies. For help comparing plans, you can look at plans online or call to speak with a licensed insurance agent for information about eligibility and enrollment.

About the author

Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with MedicareAdvantage.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.

Christian’s work as a Medicare expert has appeared in several top-tier and trade news outlets including Forbes, MarketWatch, WebMD and Yahoo! Finance.

Christian has written hundreds of articles for MedicareAvantage.com that teach Medicare beneficiaries the best practices for navigating Medicare. His articles are read by thousands of older Americans each month. By better understanding their health care coverage, readers may hopefully learn how to limit their out-of-pocket Medicare spending and access quality medical care.

Christian’s passion for his role stems from his desire to make a difference in the senior community. He strongly believes that the more beneficiaries know about their Medicare coverage, the better their overall health and wellness is as a result.

A current resident of Raleigh, Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.

If you’re a member of the media looking to connect with Christian, please don’t hesitate to email our public relations team at Mike@tzhealthmedia.com.

 

 

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